What Is Plantar Fasciitis and How Can I Treat It?

If you’ve ever stepped out of bed in the morning and felt a sharp pain in your heel, you’re not alone. Heel pain is one of the most common foot problems we treat in our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing offices — and the leading cause is plantar fasciitis.

But what exactly is plantar fasciitis, and what can you do about it? Let’s break it down.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to your toes. Its job is to support your arch and absorb the shock when you walk.

When this tissue becomes irritated or inflamed, it causes plantar fasciitis — a condition that can make every step painful, especially those first few steps in the morning or after sitting for a while.

Common symptoms include:

• Heel pain that’s worse in the morning

• Stabbing or burning sensation in the heel or arch

• Pain that improves slightly with movement but returns after rest

• Tenderness along the bottom of the foot

  
  

What Causes Plantar

Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone, but certain factors increase your risk, such as:

• Walking long distances on hard surfaces (hello, NYC sidewalks!)

• Flat feet or high arches

• Wearing unsupportive shoes

• Sudden increases in activity or exercise

• Occupations that require standing all day

  
  

How Can I Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

The good news? Plantar fasciitis is treatable — and most patients improve with a combination of at-home care and professional treatment.

At-home remedies:

• Rest: Avoid activities that make your heel pain worse.

• Stretching: Gentle calf and arch stretches can reduce tension on the fascia.

• Ice: Applying ice to your heel for 15–20 minutes helps reduce inflammation.

• Supportive shoes or orthotics: Proper arch support makes a big difference.

  
  

Professional treatments we offer:

• Custom orthotics to support your foot mechanics.

• Corticosteroid injections for stubborn inflammation.

• Shockwave therapy – a cutting-edge option that uses sound waves to stimulate healing in chronic cases.

• Surgery (rare) for severe, persistent plantar fasciitis that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

  
  

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

If heel pain is interfering with your daily life, lasting more than a couple of weeks, or keeps coming back, it’s time to see a podiatrist. Early treatment prevents the condition from becoming chronic and much harder to manage.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Manhattan, Brooklyn & Flushing

Living with heel pain is frustrating, but you don’t have to. At Total Foot & Ankle Care, our experienced podiatrists use the latest technology, including custom orthotics, shockwave therapy, and advanced treatment plans, to help patients find lasting relief.

Schedule an appointment today at our Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Flushing locations and take the first step toward pain-free walking.

Does Swift Therapy Really Work for Plantar Warts?

Walking around Manhattan in flip-flops seemed like a great idea until you picked up that stubborn plantar wart. Now, months later, you've tried every drugstore remedy imaginable, and that annoying bump on your foot is still there, maybe even bigger than before.

If this sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone. We see patients at our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing offices all the time who've been battling the same wart for months or even years. The good news? There's a newer treatment called Swift therapy that's been a game-changer for many of our patients.

What Are These Stubborn Things Anyway?

Plantar warts are basically your foot's unwanted houseguests. They're caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) that sneaks in through tiny cuts on your feet (think public pools, gym showers, or even just walking barefoot around the city). Unlike warts elsewhere on your body, plantar warts get pushed inward from all the pressure of walking, which makes them particularly stubborn.

You'll know you're dealing with one if you notice a rough, grainy bump on the bottom of your foot that hurts when you press on it or walk. Sometimes they look like thick calluses, but if you look closely, you might see tiny black dots—those are actually clotted blood vessels, not dirt.

The frustrating thing about plantar warts is they're contagious and persistent. You can spread them to other parts of your foot or pass them to family members, and they have an annoying habit of coming back even after you think they're gone.

What Is Swift Therapy?

Swift therapy takes a completely different approach than those painful freezing treatments or harsh acid applications you might have tried. Instead of trying to burn or cut out the wart, Swift uses controlled microwave energy to heat up the infected tissue and essentially wake up your immune system.

Think of it this way: your immune system hasn't been recognizing the virus as a threat, so it's been ignoring it. Swift gives your body a gentle nudge to say, "Hey, there's something here that doesn't belong," and then your own immune system does the heavy lifting.

Does It Actually Work?

Here's what we've seen in our practices: Swift has been incredibly effective, especially for those stubborn warts that laugh in the face of over-the-counter treatments. Clinical studies show success rates around 83% after just 3-4 treatments spaced about a month apart.

What our patients love most about Swift:

• It's genuinely quick. We're talking 5-10 minutes total, and you're done.

• No recovery time. You can literally walk out and catch the subway to work.

• No open wounds. Unlike freezing or cutting, there's nothing to bandage or keep dry.

• It's tolerable. Most people describe it as feeling like a brief hot sensation—uncomfortable for a few seconds, but nothing compared to liquid nitrogen.

• It works on resistant cases. We've had success with warts that have been around for years and haven't responded to anything else.

What's It Really Like?

When you come in for Swift treatment, we'll clean the area and then apply the microwave probe directly to the wart. You'll feel heat for about 2-3 seconds per application—some people compare it to someone pressing a warm coffee mug against their foot. We typically do several applications in one session, but the whole thing is over quickly.

The best part? You walk out normally. No limping, no special shoes, no keeping your foot dry for days. You can head straight back to work or hit the gym if you want.

Don't expect the wart to disappear overnight, though. Your immune system needs time to do its job—usually a few weeks to a couple of months. But unlike surface treatments that just remove the visible part, Swift is working to eliminate the virus itself, which means a much lower chance of the wart coming back.

Is Swift Right for Your Situation?

Swift tends to work well for most people, but it's especially worth considering if you've been dealing with warts that won't quit, you're tired of painful treatments, or you just want something that won't disrupt your busy NYC lifestyle.

During your consultation at any of our offices, we can take a look at your specific situation and let you know if Swift makes sense for you. Every wart is a little different, and we want to make sure you're getting the treatment that's most likely to work.

Ready to finally say goodbye to those stubborn plantar warts? Let's talk about whether Swift therapy could be your solution.

Is It Worth Seeing a Podiatrist for Plantar Fasciitis?

If you've ever jumped out of bed only to be hit with a stabbing pain in your heel, you might be dealing with plantar fasciitis. It's one of the most common foot problems we see at our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing offices- and the good news is, it's very treatable.

What Exactly Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Think of the plantar fascia as your foot's natural shock absorber. It's a thick band of tissue that runs from your heel to your toes, supporting your arch every time you take a step. When this tissue gets overworked or strained, tiny tears can develop, leading to that characteristic heel pain that makes mornings miserable.

The Tell-Tale Signs

Most people first notice plantar fasciitis pain when they get out of bed or stand up after sitting for a while. That first step can feel like stepping on a nail or being stabbed in the heel. The pain usually starts sharp but may ease up as you walk around, only to return when you've been on your feet too long or after standing on hard surfaces.

Why Does This Happen?

Living and working in New York City, we see plantar fasciitis develop from several everyday factors:

• Hard surfaces everywhere. Between concrete sidewalks, subway platforms, and office floors, our feet take a beating just from daily city life.

• Poor shoe choices. Those cute flats or worn-out sneakers might look good, but they're not doing your feet any favors.

• Your foot mechanics. Whether you have flat feet, high arches, or an unusual walking pattern, some people are simply more prone to plantar fasciitis.

• Tight muscles. If your calves or Achilles tendons are tight, they put extra stress on your plantar fascia.

• Sudden activity changes. Started a new workout routine? Took up running? Your feet might not be ready for the increased demand.

• Extra weight. More pressure on your feet means more strain on that plantar fascia tissue.

  
  

What Can You Do About It?

The encouraging news is that most people get better with simple treatments you can start at home:

• Give your feet a break. Avoid activities that make the pain worse, at least temporarily.

• Stretch regularly. Simple calf stretches and plantar fascia stretches can make a huge difference. Try rolling a tennis ball under your foot or doing wall push-ups.

• Ice and anti-inflammatories. A frozen water bottle rolled under your foot feels amazing, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help reduce inflammation.

• Support your arches. Good arch supports, heel cups, or even athletic tape can take pressure off the injured tissue.

• Consider night splints. If you're waking up with severe pain, a night splint keeps your foot stretched while you sleep.

• When these conservative approaches aren't enough, we have other options:

• Shockwave therapy uses sound waves to stimulate healing in stubborn cases.

• Custom orthotics designed specifically for your feet can address the underlying mechanical issues.

• Steroid injections can provide relief when other treatments haven't worked.

• Surgery is rarely needed, but for severe cases that don't respond to anything else, procedures like plantar fascia release can be effective.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

Don't suffer in silence if:

• Your heel pain has lasted more than two weeks despite trying home treatments

• You're limping or having trouble walking normally

• The pain is affecting your daily activities or work

• You're experiencing swelling, numbness, or burning sensations

• You keep re-injuring yourself despite your best efforts

Here's the thing, plantar fasciitis responds much better to early treatment than it does when you've been dealing with it for months. A podiatrist can figure out exactly what's causing your pain and create a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle.

Whether you're walking miles through Manhattan, chasing kids around Brooklyn playgrounds, or commuting through Flushing, you shouldn't have to live with heel pain.

The sooner you address it, the sooner you can get back to doing what you love—pain-free.