Plantar by Any Other Name

Is it plantar? Plantar fasciitis? Or plantar fasciopathy? Honestly, I don’t think it really matters when the bottom of your foot hurts every time you stand up. If I had my way, the official term 

would be ‘plantar frustration’-because that’s exactly what it feels like. Like a persistent mosquito in your bedroom at night: not life-threatening, just endlessly annoying and impossible to ignore. 

Once you start talking about it, everyone has a cure. “Oh, I had that—here’s what worked for me when nothing else did!” And so begins the journey: from doctor to physio to osteo, to your friend’s cousin’s neighbour who swears by a miracle remedy involving herbs and a rub-on cream. 

Over the years, clients have shared every solution under the sun with me: myofascial release, cortisone injections, dry needling, orthotics, taping, shockwave therapy—you name it, someone swears by it. 

Full disclosure: I’m not a doctor or a foot expert. But in my experience, especially when it comes to chronic pain and lingering injuries, there’s rarely a quick fix. 

And that’s the part no one wants to hear. Recovery takes time. It’s not sexy, it’s not exciting, but it’s the truth. The same principles that apply to rehab—consistency, patience, showing up even when it’s boring—are the same ones that get you through most of life’s challenges. 

I like to think of recovery as a road trip. You don’t just jump in the car and drive. First, there’s all the planning and prep: packing bags, organising snacks, booking accommodation, making sure the dog is sorted and the fridge is emptied. You even have to tie up loose ends at work. None of it feels like “the holiday” but it’s all essential. 

Same with injury rehab. We can’t just aim for “pain-free” without preparing the way. You’ll be doing exercises that don’t seem relevant, making adjustments that feel slow or pointless—but looking back, you’ll realise each step was getting you closer. You just have to trust the process. 

One client springs to mind—she had been dealing with plantar pain for months, and nothing seemed to work. We slowly built up strength in her calves, improved her ankle mobility, and steered clear of lower body plyometrics. For the first few weeks, she felt like nothing was changing. But bit by bit, the pain started to ease. It wasn’t magic—it was just small, consistent changes that added up. She now calls it her “slow burn comeback.” 

When it all gets a bit much (because let’s be honest, it does), I try flipping my perspective. Call me a Pollyanna, but when pain flares up—especially something niggly like plantar—I shift focus. Instead of obsessing over the one part that’s not working, I remind myself: how lucky am I? My arms work, my core’s strong, 90% of me is firing just fine. So why not train the bits that can work, and be grateful that most of me still shows up every day? 

If you’re dealing with your own ‘plantar-frustration’, here are a few gentle starting points that might help: 

• Start slow with calf stretches—tight calves often play a role, and easing them off can take pressure off the fascia. 

• Roll your foot on a frozen water bottle—a little cold and movement can soothe flare-ups. 

• Strengthen what’s around it—your glutes, ankles, and core all play a part in how your foot handles load. 

• Ease back into walking more slowly than you instinctively want to—your foot needs time to rebuild tolerance. 

But most of all, be kind to yourself. Progress is rarely a straight line, and sometimes the best thing you can do is rest, reset, and remember: you’re more than just one frustrated foot.