Stop Heel Pain and Get Back to Doing What You Love in North Seattle

Expert plantar fasciitis treatment that gets you moving again--pain-free

Is Heel Pain Stealing Your Life?

Do you get a sharp, shooting pain in your heel with first steps out of bed in the morning, making you dread the day ahead?
Are activities you used to love now off limits? Running, hiking, or long walks used to bring you joy, but now are filled with pain.
You have severe FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as you see your friends and family enjoying the activities you can't.

If You Don't Address this Problem Now...

Your heel pain will only get worse. You'll continue missing out on activities, your fitness will decline, and you may develop secondary problems llike back, hip, and knee pain from walking with an altered gait. Don't let heel pain steal another day of your life.

Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis Specialist in North Seattle

Let Me Help You!

I understand exactly what you're going through. Over the past 40 years, I've helped thousands of patients in North Seattle overcome debilitating heel pain and regain a full, active life.

I know how frustrating it is when every step hurts, when you can't do the activities you love, and when you feel like no one truly understands your pain. That's why I've dedicated my career to becoming the expert who can finally give you the relief you deserve.

Why Patients Get Heel Pain Treatment From Dr. Berg:

40+ years of podiatric expertise
Specialized expertise in plantar fasciitis
Degree in Physical Therapy for a holistic approach to treating heel pain
On-site orthotics lab for faster adjustments and immediate relief
Advanced MLS Laser Therapy technology
Computerized gait analysis for precision treatment

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Maybe you already know what plantar fasciitis is and its causes. If not, here's the scoop:

Plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot, is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The tissue, called the plantar fascia, starts at your heel, travels across your arches, and inserts into the base of your toes. If you have pain in your feet when they first hit the floor in the morning, plantar fasciitis is a likely cause. This condition is also characterized by pain that decreases as the foot warms up, but returns after standing or sitting for long periods of time.

Many factors can increase your risk for developing plantar fasciitis:

Age, as this condition is most common in patients ages 40-60
Activities, like running, that subject the feet to high levels of impact
Poor foot mechanics, like flat feet, overpronation, and other factors that affect how weight is distributed
Equinus, a condition that limits the upward bending motion of the ankle joint, often due to tightness of the Achilles tendon or calf muscles
Excess weight and obesity, which put extra stress on the plantar fascia, causing it to flatten painfully
Unsupportive shoes that easily bend in half or twist when you try to wring them out
Women are more at risk for this condition than men

We'll work to help reduce your pain and inflammation, resolve calf tightness, address mechanical problems with orthotics, and teach you how to choose the right shoes for your feet. We may also refer you for physical therapy.

Evaluating Your Heel Pain

To evaluate your condition, we'll do the following:

Examine your feet - this will help us determine the source of your pain and the degree of your equinus or tight calf muscles.
Watch you walk - observing you walk can tell us a lot about how your feet move. This includes if you overpronate, a common problem in the development of this condition.
Perform a gait analysis - we perform a gait analysis using special instruments to see the pressure points when you're standing and when you walk.
Check your footwear - sometimes plantar fasciitis can be caused by poor footwear. We'll find out what you're currently wearing and whether or not you need to make a change.
Ask about your level of activity - since athletes are at higher risk for this condition, we'll ask you about your sports participation, its duration, and frequency.

Make an Appointment

Comprehensive Treatment Plan for Plantar Fasciitis

Based on our analysis of your condition, we'll create a custom treatment plan using proven methods like MLS laser therapy, custom orthotics, and stretching exercises.

Modalities to Reduce Pain and Inflammation in Plantar Fasciitis

We'll tackle your pain and inflammation first. We use a variety of modalities including:

cortisone injections,
MLS laser therapy
self-taping
Air heel (The Air heel reduces pain by lifting the heel off the ground and relaxing the pull of the Achilles tendon and calf muscle to diminish the stress on the plantar fascia.

Learn more here!

Stretching to Relieve Tight Calf Muscles With Heel Pain

Many patients with plantar fasciitis and heel pain also have tight calf muscles. Your calf muscle, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia are all connected. When the calf muscle and Achilles are too tight you'll pull too much on the plantar fascia when you walk or run, causing microtears and inflammation (plantar fasciitis). You can't heal from plantar fasciitis without first addressing your tight calf muscles. To relieve the tightness stretching is imperative. Our office will teach you how to:

do static stretches properly
use an Achilles splint during the day
use a heel lift

Learn specifically how to relieve your tight calf muscles here.

Custom Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis

Abnormal foot mechanics is one of the biggest reasons people develop plantar fasciitis and heel pain. The best way to balance and support a foot that has an arch that is too flat or too high is through custom orthotics. Our office provides:

Traditional Custom Orthotics - these orthotics can be adjusted after they're made. Dr. Berg does these adjustments right in his office lab during your appointment.
Custom 3D Printed Orthotics - compared to traditional custom orthotics, 3D-printed orthotics are built with a unique lattice structure that delivers just the right balance of strength and flexibility for every area of the foot. Because they’re thin and lightweight, they offer an exceptional level of comfort—making them ideal for sports, work, and everyday wear.
Gait Analysis - we conduct a computerized analysis of how you stand and walk. While we still begin with your history and a physical exam, this allows us to gain insights we can’t see otherwise—such as differences in timing, weight bearing, and balance between your left and right foot during the walking cycle.

Learn more about all of our orthotics solutions here!

How MLS Laser Therapy Treats Heel Pain

We now offer advanced medicine to help reduce the pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis. MLS laser therapy is a cold laser that helps to speed your recovery by stimulating the body's own healing process.

How it works!

Uses dual wavelengths of infrared light to penetrate deep into the tissue and stimulate regeneration at the cellular level.
One laser is pulsed and treats pain and the other laser is continuous and treats inflammation.
A study found 85%-90% of patients with heel pain will get relief when they receive treatment with the MLS therapy laser. (Clinical efficacy of low-level laser therapy in plantar fasciitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Medicine, 2019 Jan 18;98(3):e14088)
Unlike cortisone, MLS laser has no side effects.

Buying Proper Footwear to Resolve Plantar Fasciitis

One of the most important things that you can do on your own to resolve your plantar fasciits is to purchase proper footwear. Sometimes a change in footwear is the only thing that needs to change in order to get rid of plantar fasciitis. To learn how to shop for shoes with plantar fasciitis, download my book, "How to Buy Shoes to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis."

Immobilization (use of a walking boot or similar)

Sometimes we need to completely prevent your feet from moving in order to put a stop to your inflammation. That's when we prescribe a walking boot.

Don't Go Barefoot

One of the worst things you can do is go barefoot at home when you have plantar fasciitis. That's because every time you take a step your plantar fascia gets stretched and it gets re-injured. Instead, wear a supportive sandal made by Oofos or Vionic.

Referrals to Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Some patients need additional help to reduce their inflammation and regain their strength. We refer to physical therapy for modalities like massage, additional stretching, and strength training.

Surgery

If conservative treatments prove insufficient, we can also discuss a variety of surgical options.

Make an Appointment

Stopping Heel Pain in Runners in North Seattle

Because heel pain is common in runners, I've created several pieces to help you prevent and stop this problem for recurring. You can read, watch, and dowload the following:

Blog - "How to Buy the Best Running Shoes for Your Feet".
Ebook - "The Complete Guide to Stopping Heel Pain In Runners".
Video - "How to Stop Heel Pain in Runners With Flat Feet" (See below)

Stopping Heel Pain in Hikers in North Seattle

If you're a hiker prone to heel pain, you know how bad things can get when out on the trail. In addition to the remedies listed above, be sure to read, watch, and download the following:

Blog - "The Definitive Guide for Stopping Heel Pain in Hikers".
Ebook - "How to Buy Hiking Boots to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis."
Hiking Checklist - "Essential Foot and Ankle First Aid Kit for Hikers"
Video - How to Stop Heel Pain in Hikers (see below)

You'll also benefit greatly from watching my video, "How to Stop Heel Pain in Hikers".

Heel Pain in Children

Heel pain is also common in children. While kids can suffer from plantar fasciitis, youth athletes in particular can also develop another heel pain condition--Sever's Disease.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis in Children

Older children will receive the same treatment as adults including custom orthotics. Younger kids with pediatric flatfoot will be fit with a prefab orthotic called Little Steps. As your child's foot size increases they will receive the next size up.

Preventing Plantar Fasciitis in Children

To prevent plantar fasciitis in children, parents should:

avoid overuse (kids should increase their athletic activity gradually so their feet have time to recover)
make sure their kids stretch before and after activity. See stretching above.
ensure shoes are stable and supportive.

FAQs

1. Does Plantar Fasciitis Go Away On It's Own?

Sometimes plantar fasciitis improves without treatment—e.g. if it’s caused by unsupportive shoes. Switching to better footwear may help the pain go away.
However, most cases don’t resolve on their own and need treatment to address the underlying cause.

Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by multiple factors such as overuse, poor foot mechanics (such as flat feet), and tight calf muscles. Runners are especially at risk. Our podiatry team in North Seattle focuses on eliminating inflammation in the plantar fascia, correcting foot mechanics, overcoming tight calf muscles, and wearing proper footwear so the fascia can heal.

2. What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia—the band of tissue along the bottom of your foot—becomes inflamed. This causes heel pain, often worse with your first steps in the morning. At the Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City in Seattle, we help patients identify what’s stressing the fascia—whether it’s activity, footwear, tight calf muscles, or biomechanics—and create a personalized treatment plan.

3. Is It OK to Keep Walking With Plantar Fasciitis?

To heal plantar fasciitis, it's important to keep your activity to a minimum. Unfortunately walking, running, and other activities will only add inflammation and injury to the plantar fascia.. One of the most important things you can do is limit weightbearing by doing one of the following:

Use an Air Heel - this device creates a cushion of air between the ground and your plantar fascia.
Self-Taping - taping your feet properly will also reduce stress on the plantar fascia
Walking Boot - if the inflammation is severe, your podiatrist may recommend a walking boot.

See more about these methods above.

Patient Testimonials

"Dr. Berg is phenomenal. After living with plantar fasciitis for 18 years, I was amazed that in only two visits he was able to diagnose my problem and provide custom orthotics that allowed me to walk pain-free while travelling. I learned the exact causes of my plantar fascitis are not only high arches, but limited ankle motion due to tight calf muscles. Beyond his immense knowledge, Dr. Berg is a kind and personable teacher, with a great staff to match."-Tanja Wood

"Dr. Berg and his wonderful staff took excellent care of me. They were thorough, and accurate in diagnosing my plantar fasciitis, and treating me appropriately with orthotics, which they are very patient about adjusting at no charge, physical therapy recommendations, and follow-up until I was well. The clean office and friendly staff are a plus. I would highly recommend the Foot and Ankle Center to anyone! -Cathy W.

"Amazing results for improving my long-term foot pain problems. Dr. Berg and his staff were friendly and efficient. I appreciate the appointment reminder calls and texts. Dr. Berg took the time to listen to my concerns and addressed them in a logical manner. Custom orthotics made it so that I could attend my industry trade show. (8 miles a day walking on concrete floors - would have been excruciating otherwise.)" - Jean M.

"I found Dr. Berg online after hobbling around with ridiculously painful plantar fasciitis for several months. Some angel must have pointed me to his office, because I found a caring, compassionate staff and doctor there. I also found a very skillful doctor who was not only able to heal my foot, but also give me the tools and information to keep my feet healthy into the future. Should I ever need a podiatrist again, I will immediately head back to the lovely people at the Foot & Ankle Center of Lake City!" Toni M