Recovery time varies depending on the severity and duration of your plantar fasciitis and how consistently you follow your treatment plan. With our comprehensive approach combining shockwave therapy, laser treatment, physical therapy, and orthotics, many patients experience significant improvement within 2-4 weeks and substantial relief within 2-3 months. Acute plantar fasciitis caught early often responds more quickly, while chronic cases present for many months may take longer to fully resolve. The key is addressing all contributing factors and following through with treatment consistently. Most patients who complete our protocol achieve full resolution of symptoms.

Shockwave therapy, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissue. For plantar fasciitis, shockwave therapy breaks down scar tissue and calcifications in the plantar fascia, triggers the formation of new blood vessels to improve circulation, stimulates the release of growth factors that promote healing, reduces pain by affecting nerve endings, and accelerates your body’s natural repair processes. Clinical research shows shockwave therapy provides significant pain reduction in 70-90% of patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Treatments are performed in our office and take only minutes. While you may feel some discomfort during treatment, most patients tolerate it well, and there’s no downtime afterward.

It depends on the severity of your condition and the type of exercise. High-impact activities like running and jumping should generally be avoided or significantly reduced while your plantar fasciitis is acute, as they can worsen inflammation and delay healing. However, low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, and upper body workouts can usually be continued. Dr. Priya will provide specific guidance based on your condition. As your plantar fasciitis improves with treatment, you’ll gradually return to your normal activities. Our physical therapists will design a progressive return-to-activity program that allows you to safely resume exercise without risking reinjury. The key is not pushing through severe pain—some discomfort during healing is normal, but sharp pain is a sign to back off.

For most patients, custom orthotics are an essential component of effective plantar fasciitis treatment. Abnormal foot mechanics—such as flat feet, high arches, or excessive pronation—are often primary contributors to plantar fasciitis development. Custom orthotics correct these biomechanical issues by providing proper arch support, cushioning the heel, redistributing pressure, and supporting optimal alignment. Unlike over-the-counter inserts, custom orthotics are precisely designed based on your unique foot structure and gait pattern. They not only help resolve current symptoms but also prevent recurrence by addressing the underlying mechanical problems. During your evaluation, Dr. Priya will assess whether custom orthotics are appropriate for your situation.

While some cases of mild plantar fasciitis may improve on their own with rest and basic self-care, most cases benefit significantly from professional treatment. Without proper treatment, plantar fasciitis often becomes chronic and progressively more difficult to resolve. The longer plantar fasciitis persists, the more difficult it typically becomes to treat. Untreated plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel pain, compensatory problems in your gait leading to issues in other joints (knees, hips, back), development of heel spurs, and significantly impaired quality of life. Early professional intervention with our comprehensive treatment approach leads to faster, more complete resolution and prevents the condition from becoming a long-term problem.

While professional treatment is important, there are several things you can do at home to support healing. Ice the affected heel for 15-20 minutes several times daily, especially after activity. Perform plantar fascia stretches before taking your first steps in the morning (Dr. Priya will teach you the proper technique). Stretch your calf muscles and Achilles tendon regularly throughout the day. Wear supportive shoes with good arch support and cushioning—avoid going barefoot or wearing flat, unsupportive footwear. Reduce high-impact activities that aggravate symptoms. Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on the plantar fascia. Use night splints if recommended to keep the plantar fascia gently stretched overnight. However, these home measures work best when combined with professional treatment addressing the root biomechanical causes.

Surgery for plantar fasciitis is rarely necessary. The vast majority of patients—over 90%—achieve successful outcomes with conservative treatment. At NJ Sports Spine and Wellness, our comprehensive approach combining shockwave therapy, laser treatment, physical therapy, custom orthotics, and other modalities resolves even stubborn, chronic cases without surgery. Surgery is only considered when conservative treatments have failed after 6-12 months of consistent, appropriate treatment and symptoms remain severe enough to significantly impact quality of life. Even then, minimally invasive procedures are available that have much faster recovery than traditional plantar fascia release surgery. Dr. Priya’s goal is always to achieve resolution with the least invasive approach possible.

While plantar fasciitis can recur, proper treatment that addresses the underlying biomechanical causes significantly reduces this risk. This is why we emphasize custom orthotics, biomechanical correction, and patient education as part of your treatment. By correcting the foot mechanics that contributed to your plantar fasciitis in the first place, we dramatically reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Continuing to wear appropriate footwear with your custom orthotics, maintaining flexibility through regular stretching, managing your weight, and modifying activities that place excessive stress on the plantar fascia all help prevent recurrence. Most patients who follow our complete protocol and recommendations enjoy long-term relief.

Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are related but not the same condition. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation and microtearing of the plantar fascia. A heel spur is a bony growth that can develop on the heel bone where the plantar fascia attaches. While heel spurs are often present in people with plantar fasciitis, they’re not the cause of the pain—the plantar fascia inflammation is what causes symptoms. In fact, many people have heel spurs visible on X-rays but experience no pain at all. Treatment for plantar fasciitis is the same whether a heel spur is present or not. Our approach focuses on reducing inflammation in the plantar fascia, improving biomechanics, and promoting healing of the damaged tissue.

We work with most major insurance plans. Because coverage varies by plan and specific treatments, we recommend contacting our office to verify your insurance benefits and discuss any out-of-pocket costs. Our staff can help you understand your coverage and answer questions about payment options. We’re committed to making quality plantar fasciitis treatment accessible and will work with you to maximize your insurance benefits.