The Myofascial Release approach to plantar fasciitis

Find the pain, look elsewhere for the source is one of the principles of the John Barnes approach to myofascial release as, more often than not, where our pain manifests is not the root cause.

A good example of this is with plantar fasciitis, the name given to bruise-like pain usually felt in the heel or arch of the foot, but can be felt on top of the foot in some cases too.

It’s understandable that we’d want treatment at the site of our pain however relief with this approach is often temporary. Tools like fascia release balls on the sole of the foot and foot rollers can be helpful but unless we look for where tension may be coming from, they’re unlikely to solve the issue long-term.

With plantar fasciitis clients there is often tightness through the Achilles tendon and up into the calf muscle, and for some this could be the source of tension causing pain in the foot. Fascia is a 3D web of gliding fibres, and so tightness and restrictions in one area e.g the calf, will pull and create tension elsewhere in the web. If you’re interested to see what this fascial web looks like, check out this video by French surgeon Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau.

However, the tension in the calf could be caused by fascial restrictions elsewhere or misalignment of the pelvis. Where the pelvis is out of balance, every step we take will be distributing force unevenly throughout the body. For lots of people, misalignment in the pelvis may not create problematic symptoms but for others, over time, tension builds and causes inflammation and pain.

Fellow John Barnes-trained Myofascial Release therapist, Dr Cindy Hodgeson has created this short video which explains these principles well.

It’s important to remember that everyone is different. No two patterns of tension within the body are the same. So while it’s helpful to know that misalignment of the pelvis can lead to plantar fascias, it’s not so in all cases. That’s why in-person postural assessment and hands-on therapy are vital for effective treatment.

If you have any questions about plantar fasciitis or myofascial release please contact me.