Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers Español For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families
Shop for Plans

Shop for Plans
Shop for your own coverage
Medical Dental Other Supplemental
Plans through your employer

Learn about the medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral, and voluntary benefits your employer may offer.

Explore coverage through work
Learn
How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics
Looking for Medicare coverage?
Shop for Medicare plans
Member Guide
Find a Doctor
Medical Dental Other Supplemental Explore coverage through work How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics Shop for Medicare plans Member Guide Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna
Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Plantar Fasciitis: Exercises

Plantar Fasciitis: Exercises

Overview

Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the ligament that supports your arch. Doing stretching and strengthening exercises can help the ligament become more flexible and make the muscles that support your arch stronger.

Here are some exercises that can help. Talk with your doctor or a physical therapist about which exercises are right for you.

How to do exercises for plantar fasciitis

How to do exercises for plantar fasciitis

Stretches to do before getting out of bed or after rest

Ankle pump

slide 1 of 3
slide 1 of 3, Ankle pump,
  1. Lie or sit on a firm surface with your feet out in front of you.
  2. Point your toes and feet up toward your knees as far as you can, then point them away from you as far as you can.
  3. Switch between pointing your feet up and pointing them down.
  4. Do this for 2 to 3 minutes, 2 or 3 times an hour.

Passive toe stretch

slide 2 of 3
slide 2 of 3, Passive toe stretch,
  1. Sit on the floor, with the heel of your affected foot on the floor. Use one hand to hold your foot steady.
  2. Using the thumb and index (pointing) finger of your other hand, slowly bend your toe forward and then backward. Hold each position for about 15 seconds.
  3. Repeat 2 to 4 times.

Calf stretch (seated, knee straight)

slide 3 of 3
slide 3 of 3, Calf stretch (seated, knee straight),
  1. Sit on the floor with your affected leg straight and resting on the floor.
  2. Place a towel around your affected foot.
  3. Hold one end of the towel in each hand.
  4. Pull back gently with the towel so that you feel a stretch in your calf.
  5. Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds.
  6. Repeat 2 to 4 times.
  7. It's a good idea to repeat these steps with your other leg.

Daily exercises

Plantar fascia self-massage

slide 1 of 7
slide 1 of 7, Plantar fascia self-massage,
  1. Sit in a chair.
  2. Place your foot on a firm, tube-shaped object, such as a can or water bottle.
  3. Roll your foot back and forth over the object to massage the bottom of your foot.
  4. Continue for 2 to 5 minutes.

If you want to do ice massage, fill a water bottle about three-fourths of the way full and freeze before using.

Passive toe stretch

slide 2 of 7
slide 2 of 7, Passive toe stretch,
  1. Sit on the floor, with the heel of your affected foot on the floor. Use one hand to hold your foot steady.
  2. Using the thumb and index (pointing) finger of your other hand, slowly bend your toe forward and then backward. Hold each position for about 15 seconds.
  3. Repeat 2 to 4 times.

Calf stretch (seated, knee straight)

slide 3 of 7
slide 3 of 7, Calf stretch (seated, knee straight),
  1. Sit on the floor with your affected leg straight and resting on the floor.
  2. Place a towel around your affected foot.
  3. Hold one end of the towel in each hand.
  4. Pull back gently with the towel so that you feel a stretch in your calf.
  5. Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds.
  6. Repeat 2 to 4 times.
  7. It's a good idea to repeat these steps with your other leg.

Calf stretch (back knee straight)

slide 4 of 7
slide 4 of 7, Calf stretch (back knee straight),
  1. Stand facing a wall with your hands on the wall. You can also do this with your hands on the back of a chair, a counter, or a tree.
  2. Put one leg about a step behind your other leg, with your toes pointing forward.
  3. Keeping your back leg straight and your back heel on the floor, bend your front knee and gently bring your hip and chest toward the wall until you feel a stretch in the calf of your back leg.
  4. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.
  5. Repeat 2 to 4 times for each leg.

Calf stretch on a step

slide 5 of 7
slide 5 of 7, Calf stretch on a step,
  1. Stand on the bottom step of a staircase, facing up toward the stairs. Put the balls of your feet on the step. Hold on to the handrail or wall.
  2. Slowly let your heels down over the edge of the step as you relax your calf muscles. You should feel a gentle stretch up the back of your leg to your knee.
  3. Hold the stretch about 15 to 30 seconds, and then tighten your calf muscle a little to bring your heel back up to the level of the step.
  4. Repeat 2 to 4 times.

Towel scrunch

slide 6 of 7
slide 6 of 7, Towel scrunch,
  1. Sit in a chair, and place your affected foot on a towel on a hard floor (not a floor with carpet).
  2. Scrunch the towel toward you with your toes. Then use your toes to push the towel back into place.
  3. Repeat 8 to 12 times.
  4. It's a good idea to repeat these steps with your other foot.

Make this exercise more challenging by placing a weighted object, such as a soup can, on the other end of the towel.

Marble pickups

slide 7 of 7
slide 7 of 7, Marble pickups,
  1. Put some marbles, dice, or small smooth rocks on the floor next to a cup.
  2. Sit in a chair, and use the toes of your affected foot to lift up one item from the floor. Then try to put the item in the cup.
  3. Repeat 8 to 12 times.
  4. It's a good idea to repeat these steps with your other foot.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

To learn more about Ignite Healthwise, LLC, visit webmdignite.com.

© 2024-2025 Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Related Links

Plantar Fasciitis

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card File a claim View my claims and EOBs Check coverage under my plan See prescription drug list Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility Find a form Find 1095-B tax form information View the Cigna Glossary Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families Medicare Employers Brokers Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal Health Care Provider portal Cigna for Employers Client Resource Portal Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About Cigna Healthcare Company Profile Careers Newsroom Investors Suppliers The Cigna Group Third Party Administrators International Evernorth

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Privacy Legal Product Disclosures Cigna Company Names Customer Rights Accessibility Non-Discrimination Notice Language Assistance [PDF] Report Fraud Sitemap Cookie Settings

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details