When Heel Pain Keeps Coming Back
For most people, plantar fasciitis doesn't announce itself as a diagnosis. It starts as a sharp sting under the heel in the morning, eases up after a few minutes, and seems manageable. Then it doesn't ease up. Then it's there at the end of every day, too. Then rest stops helping.
The standard advice, stretching, ice, orthotics, time off, can take the edge off. But for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis, especially those who've had it for months or years, conservative home measures often plateau. The tissue hasn't healed; it's just less inflamed. The underlying problem stays.
If you've been managing plantar fasciitis for longer than three months, or if it keeps returning after a period of feeling better, you likely need targeted treatment that addresses the degenerated tissue directly, not just the symptoms.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Plantar fasciitis develops when that tissue is overloaded, leading to micro-tears, inflammation, and eventually degeneration of the fascia itself.
It's most common in runners, active adults, and people who spend long hours on their feet. The hallmark symptom is sharp heel pain with the first steps of the day. Without effective treatment, it becomes a chronic condition that resists passive recovery.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment at Superior Physical Therapy
Keely Behning, PT, SCS, ATC brings 20+ years of outpatient orthopedic experience to plantar fasciitis assessment and treatment. As a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of physical therapists in Minnesota, Keely treats the full picture: load patterns, biomechanics, and tissue health, not just the point of pain.
Treatment at Superior PT may include:
- FDA-approved electromagnetic focused shockwave therapy (Storz device), one of the most evidence-backed interventions for chronic plantar fasciitis
- Dry needling to address fascial trigger points and stimulate tissue repair
- Manual therapy and progressive loading to restore pain-free function
This is especially effective for patients who have not responded to rest, orthotics, or cortisone injections.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Step 1: Assessment
Step 2: Targeted Treatment
Step 3: Progressive Recovery
What Effective Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Delivers
- Tissue repair, not just symptom relief: Shockwave therapy stimulates the body's natural healing response in degenerated fascial tissue, addressing the underlying cause rather than managing pain
- Return to activity: Most patients return to running, sport, or full-day standing without pain following a complete treatment protocol
- Lasting results: Unlike cortisone injections, which can weaken tissue with repeated use, shockwave, progressive loading and dry needling support genuine structural recovery
Frequently Asked Questions About Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Acute plantar fasciitis often responds within four to six weeks of targeted physical therapyj if it is mild. Chronic presentations, those lasting more than three months, or more severe cases typically require a longer protocol. Shockwave therapy courses run six sessions over several weeks, with continued improvement in the months following treatment.
Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic sound waves to the affected tissue, stimulating blood flow and triggering the body's natural healing response. It is FDA-approved for chronic plantar fasciitis and is one of the most evidence-supported interventions for patients who have not improved with conservative care.
Shockwave treatment is not covered by insurance. Superior Physical Therapy is fully out-of-network. Patients pay directly and may submit a superbill to their insurer for potential out-of-network reimbursement. This is often a good fit for patients with high deductibles or those who want treatment decisions based on clinical need rather than insurance approval. Since Keely has advanced training in sports medicine and has been working as a physical therapist for over 20 years, the level of expertise you get will often require less therapy visits overall compared to using in-network providers.
No referral is required. You can book directly with Superior Physical Therapy for an initial assessment.
It can, particularly if underlying load management or movement patterns aren't addressed. Treatment at Superior PT includes biomechanical assessment and exercise guidance specifically to reduce recurrence risk.
Ready to Stop Managing Heel Pain and Start Treating It?
Superior Physical Therapy in Mendota Heights offers the kind of plantar fasciitis treatment most general clinics can't: FDA-approved shockwave therapy, dry needling, and hands-on care from Keely Behning, PT, SCS, ATC, a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist with 20+ years in orthopedic and sports rehab. If your heel pain hasn't responded to what you've tried, this is the next step.
Superior Physical Therapy
1415 Mendota Heights Rd, 100Mendota Heights, MN
55120 View Staff & Treatments
