If you’ve been putting up with heel pain and hoping it will eventually disappear, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we get at Sydney Foot Solutions — and the honest answer might surprise you.
▶ Watch on YouTube: Will Plantar Fasciitis Go Away On Its Own?
The Short Answer: No, Plantar Fasciitis Doesn’t Just Go Away
Plantar fasciitis is caused by the way you stand and the way you walk. It’s the result of chronic, repetitive tearing through the plantar fascia — the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. And here’s the important part: unless you fix the underlying causes, it’s not going to magically resolve itself.
What About the ’12 to 18 Month’ Myth?
You may have heard that plantar fasciitis resolves on its own after 12 to 18 months. This is a persistent myth and there is no research to support it.
In fact, the research shows the opposite: the longer you leave plantar fasciitis untreated, the worse it is likely to get. The condition doesn’t just sit still while you wait. It progresses.
The only way that plantar fasciitis might “settle” without treatment is if you significantly reduce your activity levels — and quite frankly, who wants that? Whether you’re a parent running after kids, someone who’s on their feet all day at work, or a person who just wants to walk to the letterbox without grimacing, giving up your activity is not a solution.
Why Plantar Fasciitis Keeps Coming Back
This is a structural problem. Your foot mechanics — how you load through your arch, how your heel strikes the ground, how you pronate or supinate — are driving the ongoing damage to the plantar fascia. Without addressing those mechanics, the tissue never gets a proper chance to heal.
Common reasons people struggle with chronic plantar fasciitis include:
- Continuing activities that aggravate the tissue without modification
- Wearing unsupportive footwear
- Tight calf muscles and Achilles tendons adding load to the fascia
- No targeted rehabilitation or load management plan
- Foot posture issues that haven’t been assessed or corrected
What Actually Works for Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
The good news is that plantar fasciitis responds very well to the right treatment but it needs to be the right treatment, tailored to you. At Sydney Foot Solutions, we take a thorough approach to heel pain that goes well beyond a generic exercise sheet.
Effective plantar fasciitis treatment typically involves:
- A thorough biomechanical assessment to identify your specific contributing factors
- Foot Mobilsation Therapy
- Laser Therapy for pain and inflammation
- A targeted loading and exercise programme to progressively strengthen the plantar fascia
- Footwear and orthotic advice where appropriate
- Education around activity modification so you can keep moving while the tissue heals
Free Exercises to Get You Started
If you’re not ready to book in just yet, we’ve put together a library of free plantar fasciitis exercises on our website. These are the same exercises we give our patients — and they’re a great starting point for getting some relief.
Access our free heel pain resources: sydneyfootsolutions.com.au
Ready to Get Your Heel Pain Properly Assessed?
Don’t wait for it to get worse. We currently offer a 65% off initial assessment for heel pain — so you can get your plantar fasciitis checked out by a professional without the full-price commitment.
🦶 Book Your 65% Off Initial Heel Pain Assessment
Click here to book your discounted assessment →
Our podiatrists are experienced plantar fasciitis specialists and we see patients across Sydney. Whether you’ve had heel pain for two weeks or two years, it’s not too late to do something about it.
