How to FIX Plantar Fasciitis Permanently! (for 50+)

In this video, Farnham's leading over-50s specialist physio, Will Harlow, reveals a great exercise program and a plan for fixing plantar fasciitis heel pain. Perfect for ages 50+ and seniors.

*About Will Harlow*

**Any information in this video should not be used as a substitute for individual medical advice. Please seek advice from your local healthcare professional before taking action on the information in this video. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Will Harlow will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.**

[kathleencurry]

I find some of this advice counter to my experience, although the exercise and the tennis ball thing are great. A lifetime of custom orthotics and too much reliance on shoes to control foot positioning left me with weaker feet, adductors and abductors. Which led to hamstring issues. Not saying that this video’s advice on shoes and orthotics won’t work for some people, but retraining my feet to live in flatter wider shoes without special orthotics has been life altering. Dropping 20 lbs helped me as did deep fascia massage by a rolfer. Also, ditching the orthotics ( except for over the counter ones in running shoes and cleats ), helped fix the hamstring issues. It just takes a significant amount of time, persistence and patience. Orthotics are great for short term relief, but corrective foot and toe exercise, including an in depth evaluation of your gait, grants you longer term success. Podiatrists tend to focus on feet alone and forget about how the rest of your body contributes to your PF. Also, stay away from ice unless maybe you suddenly injured yourself, and then cease and desist with the ice after the first couple of days because it’ll decrease the bloodflow in your fascia. Beware of people trying to sell you gadgets, like pretty much none of them work, other than a half decent compression sock. Good luck, i have felt y’alls pain more than a few times.

[greyhamlogan]

No problem for 73yrs, invested in expensive shoes as a treat. Shoes had high arch support and for 2yrs struggled to walk. Went back to flat inners, coupled with stretching, I'm almost cured

[ardenburns]

I suffered from plantar fasciitis years ago and overcame it with some basic stretching. This time it's a result of an injury on a mountain bike and it's been much more difficult to deal with probably because I'm 50 this year. I really appreciate you addressing this issue specifically for us more mature folks and I hope that this routine will get me back to running .

[wavelandavedweller]

Barefoot walking is helping me. I also have zero drop shoes. Narrow toe box shoes are not good. Wide toe box is best. No orthotics. Thats what has worked for me. I do most of the exercises you recommend. Thanks

[mandi]

Well....I've been suffering from this for months. So painful. I first thought it was the running shoes. After following these stretch exercises, the pain almost immediately faded by 80%! Continued these basic stretches, and the pain is now pretty much eliminated!! Thank you!!

[AMRN]

Walked every day with the dog for years. Played golf at least twice a week. Never had pain in my until last month. And now it's crippling at times. Worst is after a round of golf, I sit in the bar for an hour and then can hardly stand up. I never associated this pain to tight calves, but having spent the past hour implementing the stretches and ball massage, I can already feel benefit!!

[Aspencreek-ID]

Nice video. I gave myself PF after a treadmill session where I cranked the incline angle way too high for my tight calves and that injured my feet. Next day both feet had major pain and I later realized I had PF. Right foot healed on its own but left foot was stubborn and was painful for nearly a year.

Did finally cure it, thank heaven, with a combination of two things you mention. First was custom made insoles that molded to my feet perfectly. I had tried a dozen over the counter insoles but none ever felt right. Custom was the way to go. Put them in a pair of Hoka shoes and NEVER set a foot down without them on for a month while I healed (except in shower where I wore Oofo sandals that are cushy but also have arch support.)

Second thing was to do calf stretches every couple hours without fail. My favorite was using stairs where you put your arch centered on the edge of a step and slowly let your heels drop down. Hold that for about 3 minutes or more just getting a good stretch.

Doing those two things cured me after battling it for a brutal year!

[vradenknight]

I’ve only started doing two of your fixes and have some improvements already. I just watched the video again to introduce some more of your fixes. You explain things so clearly and simply, it’s a great help, thank you.

[marathonmarsha]

Really good video on this issue. I am a long distance runner and have, since turning 60+, chronic issues with my PF. I figured out that my feet had flattened over the years and started using an over the counter PF insert in my running shoes (Dr. Scholls) and religiously doing all of these same exercises. They work! Two additional adds. One is that OOFOS sandals are made for recovery and are perfect for this and, before I get out of bed every morning I stretch my calves by laying on my back and bringing my toes up toward the ceiling and separating my toes and also bringing my knees and feet up toward my head and getting a hold of my toes and upper foot (a hand on each foot) and gently stretching my toes toward my head and relaxing my foot into the stretch. The result is NO pain when I get out of bed.

[tonymurray]

Excellent helpful video by a very knowledgeable young man thank you

[susiewanng]

I had plantar faciitis many years ago. My doctor prescribed painkiller which triggered allergy reactions that added to the discomfort. I wish it was explained better to me. The plantar fasciitis eventually disappeared with exercises (self experimented and managed).

Thank you so much, Will. I have subscribed and been following your weekly posting. You are doing such amazing good for many people experiencing daily pain and discomfort. Your videos are brilliant, easy to understand. My appreciation for the hours of work you put them in YouTube. From Australia.

[audreydugan]

Best Plantar Fasciitis video I have seen so far, thank you

[KarenMcdermott-ig]

Found this very helpful I've had had planter fascilitis for 2 months I will try these exercises as u love walking and at present its not so enjoyable because of this

[BobVenus-gy]

I was suffering from very painful Plantar Fasciitis a month ago and with help from HT Physio it’s now almost better!!! Cannot recommend them highly enough and the exercises shown in the video are ones I’ve been using (together with shockwave therapy to accelerate recovery) – brilliant advice!

[feraudyh]

This video needs improvements:
"caving in" is not clear (4:15) to me and the picture does not help: does it mean what is to be avoided, or what is to be achieved?
At 4:40 we cannot see the foot: the tight framing cuts off the foot.

[fransak]

I have never had any luck with orthotics, they always make my feet hurt more. My foot doc suggested Oofos brand. That is the only thing I find comfortable around the house. Greta exercises explained very clearly. I will add a few to me daily routine.

[ubtube]

Thx young man it's helping, also don't eat crap foods, processed foods/carbs, and be kind to yourself...breathe in for 3, hold for 5 and out slowly for 7 seconds...you're stressed and your body is telling you something....If you're into it...I read the metaphysical meaning:

Issues with feet:
Moving in the wrong direction, ignoring your intuition, feeling confused ungrounded or out of touch with reality. Feeling stuck, bogged down or ot others, missing the big picture. Indecisiveness. Getting cold feet about a situation
Right Foot: Too much obligation, feelings of anger, irritation, frustration and rage. A focus on the material things and what you are going to get out of a situation trying to break through something using force rather than standing back and make it happen. You are shooting yourself in the foot

Left foot:

[milkphish]

Wow!! This is such a great video! I’m a triathlete and have been suffering from painful Plantar Fasciitis in both feet for quite some time. The PF seems to go from one foot to another. I tried some of your suggestions and I’m already feeling relief and no pain! Thank you for sharing!!

[debbiesil]

I can't thank you enough, I just finish watching your video and wow, my pain move from a 100 to zero, I'm so thankful for your detailed explanation, thanks again

[omahapt]

I have flat feet. Foot pain started during the lockdowns, in 2020. I've had this pain on my right heel ever since. I just tried these exercises. It's all gone like it never happened. I'll keep doing it for a while for good measure, until I feel the calves are no longer overly tight. Thank you. Subscribed.