Our feet get a tough workout almost daily and when we squeeze them into badly-fitting shoes, we make their job even tougher. This can often lead to some painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis, a chronic swelling of the tendons on the bottom of the foot.

Athletes commonly suffer from this problem due to the extreme strain that they put on their feet when running and jumping. Basketball, soccer, and tennis players (not to mention dancers) are all high-risk groups.

But athletes aren’t the only ones who get plantar fasciitis — conversely, people who are inactive or overweight are also at risk. Wearing high heels can also trigger this and other foot problems. The condition comes on slowly beginning with sharp pain that occurs only when the foot is put under strain. Over a period of weeks or months, the pain becomes more frequent and even starts to occur when the foot is in a resting position.

This can make the sufferer’s life extremely uncomfortable. So if you notice a sharp pain in your heel when you first get out of bed, it could be the first sign of plantar fasciitis.

The good news is that plantar fasciitis is treatable and no one has to live with the chronic pain it can induce. There are many different methods of dealing with this condition including adjustments to a training routine, special shoe insoles, medications or stretching exercises.

And now the chiropractor and orthopedist Dr. DeFabio has developed a new form of treatment that he claims can heal plantar fasciitis quickly and easily. The aim of the procedure is first to reduce the swelling and then to nurture and strengthen the calf muscles.

Dr. DeFabio recommends using a massage roller stick for the treatment. These are easy to find, relatively inexpensive and allow the patient to perform the treatment at home.

In his practice, however, Dr. DeFabio applies the “Graston Technique” which involves using a steel instrument to “break down scar tissue, adhesions, to lengthen the tissue, and, in terms of plantar fasciitis, to create elasticity and to draw blood into the area,” he explains. He uses a lotion to lubricate the skin so the metal instrument glides over it comfortably.

The next step is to reduce the pressure on the tendons. Dr. DeFabio uses a special tape called “Kinesio Tape” for this. The large tape is wrapped around the heel and reaches to the toes.

Then the smaller tape is stuck to the large tape in order to take even more pressure of the heel.

The tape is left on for three to five days. When it’s removed, the pain is gone!

You can watch Dr. DeFabio in action in this video:

Maybe you’ve already been to an orthopedist or chiropractor who hasn’t heard of this method yet. If so, let him or her know about Dr. DeFabio’s new treatment and find out if it’s right for you. It could mean the difference between and quick and painless cure, or an expensive and unnecessary operation.