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Kicking Plantar Fasciitis to get Back in the Game: Jack’s Success Story

May 9, 2022 | Patient Success Stories
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By Allison R. Weder

“It’s good to see him playing the way he used to. Watching him trying to fight through the pain was hard.” – Suzie, Jack’s Mom

Jack is very active teenager. From soccer to golf he loves to be outside. But sudden, sharp pain in his foot nearly stopped Jack from playing the sport he loves. “It started hurting when I was playing (soccer) and after about a month I realized it wasn’t going away. I would start running and doing drills, but I wasn’t able to do the full practice. I still played, but it hurt.” Jack’s mom, Suzie, had an idea about what the problem might be. She chose Direct Access at Phoenix Physical Therapy’s Charlotte, North Carolina clinic to begin immediate treatment for Jack. Direct Access means patients can be evaluated and treated by a Physical Therapist without needing a practitioner or other healthcare provider’s referral. Direct Access laws vary by state. Your Phoenix Physical Therapy Patient Care Coordinator can explain how it works and determine if you’re eligible.

An evaluation of Jack’s feet quickly pointed to what Suzie suspected: plantar fasciitis. Jack remembers that day. “They started by looking at my feet. They wanted to see how I could walk and do exercises. I was massaged with a metal tool. It tickled a little. They thought I had plantar fasciitis.” Suzie was concerned, but felt confident physical therapy could help once Jack’s therapy team created his individualized plan. “I was happy to have an answer. I had a feeling that’s what it was. To have someone say for sure, this is what’s going on and we know what to do to help him was great.” Jack’s therapist was not surprised about the diagnosis. “Between soccer, golf and all his other activities he’s on his toes a lot. It’s not uncommon. The fascia is at the bottom of the foot. It connects your heal into the toes and acts as support for the muscles and the tendons. One of the classic signs of plantar fasciitis is feeling pain first thing in the morning when you get out of bed. It will be difficult to take those first steps. And at the end of his workouts, Jack was having a lot of pain. It’s really heel pain that sometimes radiates into his toes.”

Jack’s treatment started immediately. “I would come in and do a warmup on the bike for 10 minutes. Then they’d use the metal tool and then we’d go into stretching and stuff.” Jack was tired after his sessions, which is normal, but it meant his therapy team needed to create an appointment schedule that allowed him to keep up with school and soccer practices, while still giving him enough time to recover. Despite being a little tired and sore, Jack loved going to physical therapy. “I was excited! Marilyn Dang, the Patient Care Coordinator, welcomed me when I first came. It was a fun experience overall. They made me feel comfortable. I wanted to go and it was pretty fun.” Suzie knew she chose the right facility for her son. “He felt like he had a workout; he was even sweating after his sessions. We were getting up early to get there before the day started and he didn’t complain about it.”


Jack’s therapists made sure they knew his long-term goals. They didn’t stop at just resolving the pain. “Once we controlled his symptoms and pain we moved to balance and strengthening. We did a lot of plyometric training which are explosive moments that will carry over to soccer. Those basic strengthening things are important to address as teens are growing. Not a lot of kids focus on that kind of thing. We can train on correct body mechanics which leads to improvement down into the foot, so he likely won’t experience this issue again.” Jack enjoyed the full body training. “I did some exercises for my hips and legs with an exercise band. I had to walk down a hallway. Then, I’d stand on an exercise ball and bend down and touch the cones.”

Jack spent about 10 weeks with his Phoenix team, but could feel the benefits of his therapy several weeks in. “After a little while, I went to one practice and didn’t feel pain. It was an awesome day. I could do everything!” Now, Jack is back on the playing field pain-free and stronger than before. “I’m able to play defense now, without any problems. I’m focused and able to do my best.” Suzie is thrilled with the solid results she can see. “As a spectator I could tell he wasn’t playing at his best because he was hurting. Now, he’s back to where he was without pain in his feet. It’s good to see him playing the way he used to. Watching him trying to fight through the pain was hard. It was a little bit of a challenge, and we are past that now. He just has to keep doing his home exercises.” A home exercise plan is included with most therapy regimens. It can keep a patient on track, giving them the power to control and resolve their pain.

Suzie knows making decisions about healthcare for your child can be a difficult, but offers this advice about physical therapy, “I think it’s definitely worth trying. It’s safe; it’s not invasive. A lot of doctors recommend it. I believe and trust in it. It was definitely the first step in making him feel better and resolving his plantar fasciitis. And there is good energy at Phoenix PT – Charlotte. There is a sense of community when you walk in the door. We will definitely go back if we need to!” Jack is thankful his mom chose Phoenix. “It was a good experience. It helped me get through my pain. If you have pain, tell your parents about it, and get help!”

 

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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