Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain Treatment in Milwaukee, WI

Heel pain with your first steps, or sore feet after a long day standing? Let’s look for what’s behind it.

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Understanding foot pain

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, from your heel to your toes. Too much stress on it can cause tiny tears and irritation. That’s plantar fasciitis.3

It usually starts slowly, often after a change in how much you stand, walk, or run.2 The classic sign is a sharp, stabbing pain near the heel that’s worst with your first steps of the day.3

Not all foot pain is plantar fasciitis. Pain in the arch, the ball of the foot, or the back of the heel often has other causes. Where it hurts is a helpful first clue.5

24%

of adults 45 and older have frequent foot pain, based on a 2011 review of population studies1

About 15%

of foot problems in the general population are plantar fasciitis, according to a 2023 care guideline2

Ages 40–60

is when plantar fasciitis is most common, and it affects men and women alike2

Symptoms

Heel and foot pain symptoms: what you may notice

Plantar fasciitis has a pattern many people recognize: heel pain that’s worst first thing in the morning.3 Other foot problems feel different.

  • Heel

    Sharp heel pain

    A stabbing pain on the bottom of your foot, near the heel.3

  • Morning

    Pain with your first steps

    Worst when you get out of bed or stand after resting. It often eases after a few minutes.3,4

  • Activity

    Pain after exercise

    Plantar fasciitis tends to hurt more after activity, not during it.4

  • Long shifts

    Pain after standing all day

    Aching heels or arches after long hours on hard floors.3

  • Arch

    Arch pain

    Pain in the arch or along the inside of the foot and ankle, worse with activity.6

  • Ball of foot

    A pebble-in-your-shoe feeling

    Sharp, aching, or burning pain in the ball of the foot.7

  • Back of heel

    Pain above the heel

    An ache in the back of the leg or above the heel after running or sports.8

  • Push-off

    Weakness on your toes

    Pushing off or standing on your toes feels weak or painful.6

  • Nerves

    Burning, numbness, or tingling

    Across the bottom of the foot. Get it checked, especially if you have diabetes.5

  • Walking

    Walking differently

    Heel pain can change how you walk, which can strain other joints.3

Foot pain changing how you walk? Over time it can affect your knees, hips, or back.3 See knee pain, hip pain, and lower back pain.

When to seek medical care first

Most heel and foot pain isn’t an emergency. A few warning signs need a medical provider right away, not a chiropractic clinic.5 Once you’ve been cleared, we’re here for the pain that lingers.

Get medical care right away if you:

  • Can’t walk or put weight on your foot, especially after an injury5
  • Have serious pain or swelling after an injury5
  • Felt a pop or snap at the back of your heel, with sudden severe pain or trouble walking. This can be a torn Achilles tendon.8,9
  • Have signs of infection: a change in skin color, warmth, tenderness, or a fever over 100°F5
  • Have an open wound, or one that’s oozing pus5
  • Have diabetes and a foot wound that isn’t healing, or is deep, swollen, or warm5,10

See a medical provider soon if you have:

  • Swelling that doesn’t improve after 2 to 5 days of home care5
  • Pain that doesn’t improve after several weeks5
  • Burning, numbness, or tingling across the bottom of your foot5
Causes

What causes heel and foot pain?

Your feet carry you all day, so small strains add up. Common causes include:3,5

Plantar fasciitis Flat feet or high arches Tight calf muscles Worn-out or unsupportive shoes Long hours standing Achilles tendinitis Ball-of-foot pain (metatarsalgia) Arthritis Stress fractures

Flat feet don’t always hurt. Most people with flat feet have no symptoms.6 When they do hurt, the pain is often in the arch or along the inside of the ankle.

What can raise your risk

Long hours on your feet

Teachers, factory workers, and health care workers who stand or walk on hard surfaces for hours are at higher risk.3 Working on your feet? See our care for physical jobs.

Foot shape and tight calves

Flat feet, high arches, and limited ankle bend add strain to the plantar fascia.2,3

Age

Plantar fasciitis is most common between ages 40 and 60.2,3

Running and body weight

Running and other high-impact sports raise your risk. So does extra body weight, which adds pressure on the heel.2,3

Hurt your foot on the job? We accept workers’ compensation, and we offer workplace wellness programs for Greater Milwaukee employers.

Where it hurts

Foot pain by location: what it may mean

Where your foot hurts is a useful clue. This guide shows common causes for each area and when to get checked.

It’s a starting point, not a diagnosis. Your exam helps show what’s behind your pain.

Where it hurtsCommon causesWhen to get checked
Bottom of the heelPlantar fasciitis, often worst with your first steps3If it doesn’t improve after several weeks, or it changes how you walk5
ArchPlantar fasciitis or flat feet, sometimes from a weakened tendon that supports the arch3,6If it limits what you want to do6
Ball of the footMetatarsalgia, a Morton neuroma (an irritated nerve between the toes), or a stress fracture5,7If it doesn’t improve after several weeks, or your toes go numb5,7
Back of the heelAchilles tendinitis, or irritation of the small sac (bursa) behind the heel5,8Right away after a pop with sudden, severe pain. Otherwise, if the ache doesn’t go away.8,9
Top of the footA stress fracture, tendinitis, arthritis, or gout5Right away if you can’t bear weight. Soon if swelling lasts more than 2 to 5 days.5
Your care

How a chiropractor for plantar fasciitis can help

Your chiropractor starts by listening: when the pain started, when it’s worst, and how long you stand, walk, or run. Then your doctor checks your feet, ankles, knees, and hips, and watches how you stand and walk. X-rays are taken only if your exam calls for them.

A free foot scan can show your arches and how your weight is spread across each foot. Your doctor explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what’s right for you.

Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your condition, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.

What the research says

A 2023 physical therapy guideline for heel pain recommends hands-on care for the joints and soft tissues of the foot and leg. It also recommends calf and plantar fascia stretches, and foot taping alongside other care.2

What it says about orthotics

The same guideline says shoe inserts, store-bought or custom, shouldn’t be used alone for short-term relief. Combined with other care, they may help reduce pain and improve function.2

What your care may include

Good to know

If you don’t want an adjustment

Say so, and your doctor won’t adjust you. Stretching, gentle muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.

Hands-on

Adjustments and gentle joint movement

Gentle, targeted care helps restore motion to stiff joints in the foot, ankle, and lower body.

Gentle option

Gentle muscle work

Hands-on work for tight calves and the muscles along the bottom of the foot.

Rehab

Stretching and strengthening

Calf and plantar fascia stretches, plus foot and ankle strengthening you can do at home.

Every clinic

Free foot scan and orthotics

A free Foot Levelers scan shows your arches. If you and your doctor decide inserts fit, learn about custom orthotics.

Select clinics

Physical therapy

Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.

Select clinics

Massage therapy

Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.

Every day

Shoe and standing guidance

Practical tips on shoes, breaks, and long shifts help protect your feet between visits.

Recovery

How long does plantar fasciitis last?

Plantar fasciitis can take a while to settle, but most people get better without surgery. More than 90% improve within 10 months of starting simple care, like stretching and supportive shoes.4

Sticking with your stretches matters. Left alone, heel pain can become long-lasting and change how you walk.3 See a provider if your pain doesn’t improve after several weeks.5

More than 90%

of people with plantar fasciitis improve within 10 months of starting simple care.4

Free foot scan

See how your feet carry you

Flat feet, high arches, and the way you walk can all strain the plantar fascia, so a scan is a useful place to start.3

A quick digital Foot Levelers scan shows your arches and how your weight is spread across each foot. There’s no obligation to buy orthotics. Your doctor walks you through what the scan shows.

Free at every clinic
Free foot scan

Available at all 20+ clinics. Custom orthotics are made by Foot Levelers if you and your doctor decide they’re a fit.

Request a free foot scan About custom orthotics
Insurance and your first visit

Care that fits your coverage

We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.

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  • Most commercial plans
  • Medicare
  • Auto accident claims
  • Workers’ compensation
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Your first visit

What to expect at your first visit

  1. Share your story

    Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.

  2. Get a thorough exam

    Your doctor checks how your feet, ankles, knees, and hips move, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your legs and feet. X-rays are taken if needed.

  3. Talk through your options

    Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.

  4. Begin care at your next visit

    Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.

Your care team

Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who treat foot pain

Our chiropractors care for heel and foot pain every week. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with foot pain.

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
[Focus area][Focus area]

[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with foot pain and plantar fasciitis.]

More about Dr. [Name]

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
[Focus area][Focus area]

[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with foot pain and plantar fasciitis.]

More about Dr. [Name]

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
[Focus area][Focus area]

[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with foot pain and plantar fasciitis.]

More about Dr. [Name]
Meet your care team
Why Milwaukee trusts us

Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982

Personal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.

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Patients cared for
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Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources

Common questions

Frequently asked questions about plantar fasciitis and foot pain

Many patients find chiropractic care helps them move more comfortably. A 2023 guideline for heel pain recommends hands-on care for the foot and leg, along with stretching. Your doctor checks your feet, ankles, and legs, then talks through options with you.

That’s the classic sign of plantar fasciitis. The pain is often worst with your first few steps in the morning, or after sitting a while. It usually eases after a few minutes of walking.

It can take months to settle. More than 90% of people improve within 10 months of starting simple care, like stretching and supportive shoes. See a provider if your pain doesn’t improve after several weeks.

Usually not. Most people with heel spurs don’t have heel pain, and spurs don’t cause plantar fasciitis pain. Plantar fasciitis can be treated without removing a spur.

They can help as part of a plan. A 2023 heel pain guideline says inserts, store-bought or custom, shouldn’t be used alone for short-term relief. Combined with other care, they may help reduce pain and improve function. A free foot scan can show whether they’re worth considering.

Calf stretches and stretches for the plantar fascia itself are recommended for both short- and long-term relief. Your doctor can show you how to do them and how often.

They can, but most people with flat feet have no symptoms. When flat feet do hurt, the pain is often in the arch or along the inside of the foot and ankle. It may get worse with activity.

Long hours on hard floors put steady pressure on your heels and arches. Teachers, factory workers, and health care workers have a higher risk of plantar fasciitis. Supportive shoes, short breaks, and stretching can help.

It can. Heel pain may change how you walk, which can lead to problems in your knees, hips, or back. Your exam looks at how your whole lower body moves.

Tell your doctor and they won’t. Stretching, gentle muscle work, and exercise are other ways to care for heel and foot pain. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.

Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.

Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.

Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.

Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for foot pain and plantar fasciitis. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you

Find foot pain and plantar fasciitis care near you: 20+ locations

Every clinic offers chiropractic care for foot pain and plantar fasciitis, close to home or work.

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Keep reading
Article

Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia): Causes and Relief

Ball of foot pain can feel like a pebble in your shoe.

Article

Why Does My Heel Hurt in the Morning?

Sharp heel pain with your first steps in the morning is a classic sign of plantar fasciitis.

Related conditions

Knee painHip painLower back painCare for physical jobs

Related services

Patient resources

Sources

  1. Thomas MJ, Roddy E, Zhang W, et al. The population prevalence of foot and ankle pain in middle and old age: a systematic review. Pain. 2011;152(12):2870–2880.
  2. Koc TA Jr, Bise CG, Neville C, Carreira D, Martin RL, McDonough CM. Heel pain – plantar fasciitis: revision 2023. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2023;53(12):CPG1–CPG39.
  3. Mayo Clinic. Plantar fasciitis: Symptoms and causes.
  4. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo). Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs.
  5. Mayo Clinic. Foot pain: Causes and when to see a doctor.
  6. Mayo Clinic. Flatfeet: Symptoms and causes.
  7. Mayo Clinic. Metatarsalgia: Symptoms and causes.
  8. Mayo Clinic. Achilles tendinitis: Symptoms and causes.
  9. Mayo Clinic. Achilles tendon rupture: Symptoms and causes.
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your Feet and Diabetes.
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