Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Sherwood Park

Heel pain can quickly turn everyday activities – running, walking the dog, or even getting out of bed – into a frustrating challenge. One of the most common causes of persistent heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a condition that affects many active people in Sherwood Park and the surrounding area.

The good news is that physiotherapy combined with shockwave therapy can effectively treat plantar fasciitis, helping you recover faster and return to the activities you love.

If you’re dealing with heel pain, here’s what you need to know about plantar fasciitis and how modern physiotherapy treatments can help.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury involving the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your heel to your toes. When this tissue becomes irritated or overloaded, it can develop tiny tears that lead to inflammation and pain – usually felt in the heel or arch of the foot.

According to the Mayo Clinic, plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and often causes sharp pain with the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest.

Learn more from their medical guide here.

Common Symptoms

People with plantar fasciitis often experience:

    • Sharp heel pain with the first steps in the morning
    • Pain after running or exercise
    • Heel or arch tenderness
    • Tightness in the foot or calf
    • Pain after long periods of standing or walking

Many active people in Sherwood Park develop plantar fasciitis due to running, sports, long work shifts, or sudden increases in activity levels.

Common Causes

Several factors can increase stress on the plantar fascia, including:

    • Running or high-impact sports
    • Tight calves or Achilles tendons
    • Flat feet or high arches
    • Sudden increases in activity
    • Standing or walking for long periods
    • Improper footwear

Without proper treatment, plantar fasciitis can become chronic and last for months or even longer.

Read on below for more more info about plantar fasciitis and how physio and shockwave therapy can help…

Shockwave therapy in Sherwood Park Physio - therapy on foot

Why Choose Acceleration Physio for your Heel Pain and Shockwave Therapy?

Private treatment rooms
Trusted by other medical professionals
Multi-use space
One on One care

How Physiotherapy Treats Plantar Fasciitis

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for plantar fasciitis. A physiotherapist focuses on reducing pain, improving mobility, and correcting the underlying causes of the condition. Your treatment plan may include:

Movement and Biomechanical Assessment

Your physiotherapist will assess:

  • Foot mechanics
  • Walking or running patterns
  • Ankle mobility
  • Strength in the calves, hips, and lower legs

This helps identify why your plantar fascia is being overloaded.

Targeted Strengthening and Stretching

Rehabilitation exercises help reduce stress on the plantar fascia by improving flexibility and strength in key areas, including:

    • Calf muscles
    • Foot intrinsic muscles
    • Achilles tendon
    • Hip stabilizers

These exercises help prevent the condition from coming back.

Manual Therapy

Hands-on techniques may be used to:

    • Improve joint mobility in the foot and ankle
    • Release tight muscles
    • Reduce tissue stiffness

Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Acceleration Physiotherapy now combines rehabilitation with shockwave therapy, which is especially helpful for persistent heel pain. Shockwave therapy uses high-energy acoustic waves delivered to the injured tissue. These waves stimulate healing by:

    • Increasing blood flow
    • Stimulating tissue regeneration
    • Breaking down scar tissue
    • Reducing chronic inflammation

The treatment is non-invasive and requires no downtime, making it ideal for active individuals.

Read more about Shockwave Therapy at Acceleration Physiotherapy Sherwood Park

What to Expect During Treatment

If you visit Acceleration Physiotherapy Sherwood Park for plantar fasciitis treatment, here’s what a typical plan may look like:

Initial Assessment

Your first appointment will typically include:

    • A detailed injury history
    • Foot and gait analysis
    • Range-of-motion testing
    • Strength assessment

Your physiotherapist will then design a personalized treatment plan.

Shockwave Therapy Sessions

Shockwave therapy treatments usually:

    • Last 5–10 minutes
    • Require 3–5 sessions for best results

Guided Exercise Program

You’ll also receive exercises to perform at home to support recovery and prevent recurrence.

Benefits of Physiotherapy and Shockwave Therapy

Combining physiotherapy with shockwave therapy provides several advantages:

Treats the Root Cause

Physiotherapy addresses biomechanics, muscle imbalances, and mobility limitations that contribute to plantar fasciitis.

Get Back to Activity

Active adults can often return to their favourite sports, workouts and everyday movements much sooner with proper, timely treatment.

Faster Pain Relief

Shockwave therapy stimulates the body’s healing response, often reducing pain faster than exercise alone.

When to Seek Treatment

Many people try to “push through” heel pain, but early treatment leads to better outcomes. Consider seeing a physiotherapist if you experience:

    • Heel pain lasting longer than 1–2 weeks
    • Pain that worsens with activity
    • Difficulty walking or exercising
    • Recurring heel pain after running or sports

The earlier plantar fasciitis is treated, the faster recovery tends to be.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Sherwood Park

If heel pain is interfering with your workouts, daily routine, or weekend activities, physiotherapy combined with shockwave therapy can help you recover safely and effectively. A targeted treatment plan can relieve pain, restore mobility, and help prevent the condition from coming back – so you can stay active and pain-free.

If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis in Sherwood Park, consider booking an assessment with one of our physiotherapists: click here to book

What Our Patients Say

  • I've been to a lot of physio therapy, and hands down Acceleration is one of the best. Knowledgeable staff, friendly, and very professional. If it wasn't for Brit, WCB would have sent me back to work with a meniscus tear, she discovered it, and pushed for the MRI. I'm now a couple months post op and my knee feels like nothing happened. Couldn't do it with out these guys. 10/10.

    Jon G

  • After less than satisfactory treatment at the physio clinics in Fort Saskatchewan, I tried Acceleration. The staff is friendly and helpful. All of the treatments are done one on one in private rooms so you aren't waiting behind a curtain as the therapist bounces between patients. Britt was awesome, explained everything well, answered all of my many questions with patience and understanding. The treatment plan wasn't just a sheet off the wall or "standarized" treatments, it was personalized for what I was experiencing. All treatments were administered by Britt, not by the extra people working there, very different from the heat, tens go home that I received before. I would definitely recommend the clinic and Britt for any physiotherapy you might need.

    Cindy S

  • Shauna has magic hands and is a super super awesome person! I’ll be going for regular massages now! Feels amazing!

    Scott M

  • Brit Chase helped me with hip issues I've been having. She was so helpful and is super knowledgeable. Thanks to her help and advice my body is healing and I hope to return to sports in the near future. The clinic is also very nice. The rooms for assessment and hands on therapy are private and the vibe is very professional - no lineup of people or feeling like you're just a number and no curtains!

    Sarah T

  • I’ve been going for treatments here for many years, and have had only the best experiences. The staff’s knowledge is exceptional, and I’m always taking something new away after each treatment. PT, massage therapy. Helping with practical tips for my cross training and distance running has allowed me to live the active lifestyle I need to have.

    Jacob L

  • I had a great experience at acceleration physio! Brittany helped me over the course of a couple months overcome a wrist drop, she was realistic about timelines and exercises while also being encouraging along the way! I would recommend Brittany to anyone!

    Abigail M

  • After years of chronic neck/shoulder pain and headaches and thousands of dollars spent on massage and chiro, I decided to try physio. Brit created a Clinical Pilates program for me that effectively addressed my issues and the frequency of my headaches has decreased significantly. She listened to my concerns and designed a program that supported my goals but also challenged me. I felt noticeably stronger after a few weeks of my program. She is knowledgeable and encouraging which was especially helpful as I was learning how to use the reformer. Thank you Brit!

    Allison G

  • James at Acceleration Physio has helped me deal with chronic neck pain. With his help and exercise program I have been able to stabilize and get back to a level of normalcy that for a time seemed out of reach. He has become an integral part of my healthcare team and I can’t recommend him enough.

    Robin L

  • Brilliant practitioners at Acceleration Physiotherapy. Suffered from a knee/hip issue that was causing significant pain and loss of quality of life. Acceleration’s team put a plan in place to ensure the issue was properly assessed. They told me it would take a few sessions to properly determine the cause. After three sessions the issue was accurately diagnosed and I was given a treatment plan that began to show results and reduce pain immediately. Issue is practically resolved now and Acceleration’s team have given me a clear plan to ensure issue doesn’t reoccur. I also felt a genuine concern for my recovery and desire from the team to diagnose the issue I was facing. That was a nice feeling.

    Dave S

  • Brittney is amazing. Her knowledge is so extensive that she always has an answer and solution to my problems. She has made my life so much better after my foot surgery. I used to go to her at her former work place and was so happy i could find her at Acceleration. I recommend her to all my friends. Thanks so much, Brittney, you go above and beyond in your work.

    Judith G

  • James is hands down the best physiotherapist I’ve ever worked with. I’ve seen him for acute and chronic issues and always have great results. His assessments are thorough, his treatment plans are helpful, and he makes customized adjustments as treatment progresses. No generic treatments and waiting around while your physiotherapist bounces between multiple appointments. You get his full attention the whole time and the space is very comfortable. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!

    Kelsey C

  • Brittney and her team at Acceleration Physiotherapy are professional, courteous and well trained in all aspects of personal physical therapy. My time with Britney was excellent – always cheerful, ready to help, an excellent listener, but most important to me was that she was able to explain what we were doing to fix me, why we were doing it and show how in a simple way to achieve the results I needed. I will definitely come back to Brittney if I need to and would recommend anyone to contact her and Acceleration Therapy to assist them in their recovery.

    Mark G

  • I guess what I really appreciate about Brittney is that she made me better. I’ve been out x-country skiing 3 times over the past 3 or 4 weeks and enjoy it so much because I am simply pain free. No more wobbling and hobbling and I can fully enjoy this wonderful winter sport. Further, I appreciate Brittney’s professionalism, knowledge and skill as a physiotherapist and I feel valued and treated as an important client. I will gladly recommend Brittney to any of my family or friends if they are looking for a  physiotherapist. No hesitation whatsoever.

    Keith B

  • I cannot recommend James highly enough. His thorough evaluations and precise, tailored treatments made an immediate and lasting impact to my carpal tunnel related issues. To say IMS has been a miracle would not be a far stretch. With his direct and down-to-earth approach, I am educated on my condition and know I am getting the best physiotherapy treatment possible with each visit. Simply put, there is no one better!

    Stephanie

  • James is the best - from my early days playing hockey to now in my mid-40’s I have had many Physiotherapists work with me for various injuries and none have been as comprehensive, knowledgeable and engaged as James. He is really about getting his patients back to real life as soon as possible, having fun, and no unnecessary clinical fluff. I trust him completely for myself, my wife and young daughters who are athletes themselves. We wouldn’t think to go anywhere else.

    Chad

  • I highly recommend James Squire as a physiotherapist. He offered me exceptional care by using multiple modalities in my treatments to improve my mobility and strength, relieve my pain, and restore my physical function.

    Amanda

  • I recently started to see James Squire about a shoulder injury. My shoulder worked, but certain movements caused a great amount of pain. The biggest issue was my sleeping. I would wake up 5-6 times a night in excruciating pain. After 4 weeks with James, there was a huge difference. Within 8-9 weeks, workouts felt great and I could sleep through the night pain-free. It was a long process, but one I was confident that James could help me with. He was polite, professional, knowledgable, and made it easy for me to comprehend my injury. He made sure I had the knowledge and understanding to continue on my own. I would highly recommend James to anyone with an injury!

    Keagan

  • I came to James after suffering a significant shoulder injury playing football. He was able to accurately identify the cause and severity and prepare a successful treatment plan that allowed me to return to my sport without any symptoms. He is able to combine his medical knowledge with his own sports experience to provide the best service possible for an athlete.

    Tony