That first step out of bed in the morning. The ache in your heel after a long walk. That sharp stab when you’re just trying to enjoy your workout.
Plantar fasciitis is one of those conditions that starts off annoying—and quickly becomes something that limits everything from your workouts to your workday. And during the summer, when you’re more active and more often in sandals or on hard surfaces, it tends to flare up fast.
At Off The Block Performance Physical Therapy, we’ve helped dozens of patients in Easley, Central, and surrounding areas like Powdersville get past stubborn heel pain. And most of the time, they say the same thing:
“I wish I’d done something about this sooner.”
Plantar fasciitis happens when the band of tissue along the bottom of your foot (called the plantar fascia) becomes irritated, inflamed, or overloaded. But here’s the part most people miss:
The foot is rarely the true cause of the issue.
Most of the time, we find that plantar fasciitis is linked to:
- Poor ankle mobility
- Weak glutes and hips
- Overreliance on the foot for stability
- Tight calves
- Poor footwear or standing posture
- Lack of strength in the small muscles of the foot
If you’re only treating the foot with rest, ice, or arch supports, you’re probably just scratching the surface.
Mark is a 41-year-old teacher and summer league tennis player who came to our Easley clinic with heel pain that had slowly been getting worse over the past few months. By the time he saw us, his heel hurt every time he stood up, and he had started limping after matches.
Mark had tried rolling his foot on a frozen water bottle, stretching his calves, and wearing different shoes—but nothing was working.
During our assessment, we found:
- Limited dorsiflexion in his ankles
- A weak posterior chain—especially his glutes
- Tight, overactive calves
- No stability in his foot during single-leg stance or push-off
We worked on restoring ankle mobility, rebuilding strength and control through his hips and core, teaching him how to load through his foot properly, and gradually reintroducing him to full tennis play.
After five weeks of consistent care, Mark was back to playing pain-free—and even reported his footwork felt stronger and quicker than before.
At Off The Block PT, we don’t just treat your foot. We treat the why behind the pain.
✅ Restore ankle and foot mobility
✅ Rebuild strength from the foot up through the hips
✅ Address gait and loading mechanics
✅ Teach you how to manage activity and build resilience
Whether you’re an athlete, a busy parent, or someone who just wants to walk without limping, we build a plan that fits your life—and gets results.
Tired of heel pain slowing you down? Let’s fix it at the source.
We help active people across Easley, Central, Powdersville, and the surrounding areas move without pain—and stay that way.
📞 Call or text (864) 633-9272 to schedule your visit. No referral needed.