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Plantar Fasciitis
Treatment in Overland Park, KS · Dr. Ladd Carlston
What it feels like
Sharp heel pain first thing in the morning. Pain after standing long periods. Pain along the arch. Worse after exercise. Stiffness in the foot.
What’s actually causing it
Plantar fasciitis is almost never just a foot problem. Your foot is the last link in a chain that starts at your hip. When your glute medius isn't stabilizing your pelvis, your leg rotates inward. That rotation changes the angle of your ankle, which overstretches the plantar fascia with every step. You can roll a tennis ball on your foot every morning for the rest of your life, or you can fix the hip stability issue that's actually causing it. I use muscle testing to find the breakdown in the chain — usually it's the hip or ankle stabilizers — and when those muscles start firing again, the foot can finally heal because it's not being pulled apart from above anymore.
How I treat it
I test the muscles around the affected area individually, find which ones aren’t firing, and reset the connection using gentle techniques. No cracking, no popping.
How long it takes
Most patients feel a difference after one session. Chronic cases typically resolve in 4–6 sessions.
What it feels like
Sharp heel pain when you get out of bed. A stabbing ache that eases after a few steps, then flares again later in the day. If this sounds familiar, you're likely dealing with plantar fasciitis — and most treatments are chasing the wrong thing.
Plantar fasciitis is irritation of the thick band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that runs from your heel to your toes, supporting your arch with every step. When it's strained, tiny tears and inflammation build up, creating that sharp, stabbing pain in the heel or arch. Think of it like a rope pulled too tight — it holds you up, but eventually it frays.
Why It Happens (The Real Causes)
The fascia is usually overloaded because other muscles aren't doing their job. If your glutes aren't firing, your calves and plantar fascia take the extra load. If your hips or core aren't stabilizing, your arch pays the price. The fascia is the symptom, not the cause.
Other contributing factors include overuse, improper footwear, sudden increases in activity, and structural issues like flat feet or high arches. But in my experience, the muscle dysfunction upstream is what keeps it coming back.
How I Treat It
- Test which muscles aren't firing — especially glutes, hip stabilizers, and calf complex
- Release overworked tissue in the foot, calf, and lower leg
- Reactivate weak or inhibited muscles so the load distributes properly
- Reinforce the corrected pattern so it sticks
I combine neuromuscular re-education, Applied Kinesiology-informed testing, and targeted soft-tissue release. The goal isn't just to stop the heel pain — it's to fix why the fascia was overloaded in the first place.
Results & Timelines
- Acute cases: Often 2–4 visits.
- Chronic or long-term cases: Typically 4–8 visits with brief daily homework.
- Maintenance: Optional — some patients check in periodically, especially runners or people on their feet all day.
“I had been suffering for years and was unsuccessfully treated by others. In one visit, Dr. Ladd was able to find and address the real issue.”
Patient review · Plantar Fasciitis patient
Techniques I use for plantar fasciitis
Common questions
Do I need orthotics?
Sometimes orthotics help, but they're a support — not a fix. If the muscles causing the overload aren't addressed, orthotics just manage the symptom. I look at the whole chain first.
How soon can I walk or run without pain?
Acute cases often see significant relief within 2–4 visits. Chronic cases take longer, but most patients notice improvement well before treatment is complete.
Will it come back?
It can if the underlying muscle dysfunction isn't corrected. That's why I focus on the root cause — not just the heel pain. Patients who do their brief home drills have the best long-term outcomes.
Is this different from what a podiatrist does?
Yes. A podiatrist typically focuses on the foot itself — orthotics, injections, sometimes surgery. I look upstream at the hip, core, and leg muscles that are forcing the fascia to overwork. The two approaches can complement each other.
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