Pain Condition
Plantar Fasciitis
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
The first steps out of bed are the worst. A sharp, stabbing pain under your heel eases after you walk around, then returns after sitting or at the end of a long day. Plantar fasciitis is common and stubborn, and treating the tight calf and foot muscles that load the heel often helps.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. It supports the arch and absorbs load with every step. Plantar fasciitis, sometimes called plantar fasciopathy, is irritation and overload of this tissue where it attaches to the heel.
It is common in runners, people who stand all day, people who recently increased activity, and people with tight calves, flat or high arches, or new footwear. Tight calf muscles and a stiff Achilles increase tension on the fascia. Trigger points in the calf and the small foot muscles can also refer pain to the heel. The classic sign is sharp pain with the first steps in the morning.
Dr. Gordon releases the calf and foot muscles that load the plantar fascia and treats the tissue around the heel, coordinating with your podiatrist or physical therapist.
Plantar Fasciitis at a Glance
Also called
Plantar heel pain, plantar fasciopathy
Classic sign
Sharp heel pain with the first steps in the morning or after sitting
Who it affects
Runners, people who stand all day, people with tight calves or new footwear
Key contributors
Tight calves and Achilles, foot muscle trigger points, activity spikes
Often seen with
Ankle pain, Achilles pain, knee pain
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Plantar fasciitis is often treated at the heel alone. The calf and foot muscles that keep loading the fascia are frequently overlooked.
What routine testing is looking for
- Heel stress fractures
- Nerve entrapment at the heel
- Heel bone spurs on X-ray
- Inflammatory arthritis
What often keeps symptoms going
- Tight calves and Achilles
- Trigger points in the small foot muscles
- Calf trigger points referring to the heel
- Footwear and standing surfaces
- Sudden increases in activity
These are found with hands-on and walking assessment.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Sharp pain with first steps
Stabbing heel pain when you get out of bed.
Pain after sitting
Pain returning when you stand after resting.
Heel tenderness
Pain pressing on the inner bottom of the heel.
Pain after long days
Aching after standing or walking all day.
Arch pain
Pain along the arch.
Tight calves
Calves that feel tight or stiff.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Calf and Achilles tightness
Tight calves increase pull on the plantar fascia.
Foot muscle trigger points
Small foot muscles refer pain to the heel.
Load spikes
Sudden increases in walking, running or standing overload the fascia.
Footwear and surfaces
Unsupportive shoes and hard floors add stress.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Plantar Fasciitis
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your imaging, physician or physical therapy notes, medications and past treatments so he knows what has been ruled out and what has already been tried.
Heel and arch assessment
Palpation and tests to confirm plantar fascia involvement.
Calf and foot muscle mapping
Assessment of the calf, Achilles and small foot muscles.
Walking and footwear review
Dr. Gordon looks at how you walk and the shoes you wear.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- A joint that is hot, red and swollen, especially with fever
- Inability to bear weight or use the limb after an injury
- Visible deformity after a fall or injury
- Sudden swelling after a pop or twist
- Calf pain and swelling, which can signal a blood clot
- Numbness, coldness or color change in the hand or foot
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for plantar fasciitis, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases the calf, Achilles-area and foot muscles that load the plantar fascia.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture to calm heel pain and support tissue recovery.
See all servicesBetween visits
Foot Plan & Team Coordination
Footwear, stretching and loading guidance, coordinated with your podiatrist or physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"I love the acupuncture, the cupping, and the medical massage. It helps so much! ... And I'm still blown away that the flare up of plantar fasciitis was completely resolved with a 5 minute treatment two weeks ago!"
Amy Downs, Google Review
Plantar Fasciitis Questions
Answers About Plantar Fasciitis
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
The fascia tightens overnight and is stretched suddenly with the first steps.
Heel spurs are common on X-ray, including in people without pain. The fascia and muscles are usually the source.
The foot can be sensitive, so Dr. Gordon works carefully. Most people tolerate it well.
Often you can reduce and modify rather than stop entirely.
Many people improve within four to eight sessions.
Some people benefit. Your podiatrist can advise.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For plantar fasciitis, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioFurther Reading
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From the blog: which type of shockwave reaches your injury, and four questions to ask before you book.
Why Heel Pain Is Worst With Your First Steps in the Morning
From the blog: Sharp heel pain when you first get out of bed is a classic sign of plantar fasciitis. What happens to the fascia overnight, and what the pattern tells you.
Book an Evaluation for Plantar Fasciitis
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and get ahead of your heel pain.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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