Written November 2017 on Thurston talk:
Dawn Hill has been battling foot pain while walking due to plantar fasciitis for almost 25 years. It started on a vacation in Scotland where she spent most of her two weeks hiking. “Every day I’d limp in, but I wouldn’t give up my hike the next day,” says Dawn, an obviously tough woman who loves being active. She came home with an unwelcome souvenir, however. Since then, Dawn has needed orthotics, but the foot pain with walking continued.
Ivy is Dawn’s adorable Maltese/Cairn Terrier mix, who loves taking long, brisk walks, but chronic pain in Dawn’s foot started to shorten them. “The brisk walking got really painful,” Dawn recalls. “And, of course, you try to doctor them yourself before you go see someone. Finally, I went and saw my podiatrist because it wasn’t getting better. I couldn’t walk two blocks without the burn being unbearable.”
Her doctor diagnosed her with posterior tendonitis.
After trying different orthotics from the podiatrist without seeing the results she wanted, Dawn asked her doctor to refer her to Penrose & Associated Physical Therapy as she had recently met owner Jennifer Penrose and had enjoyed her.
Dawn says her experience at Penrose was amazing. They started by videotaping her on a treadmill to assess how she walked and how her gait caused foot pain. Then, they fitted her for new orthotics. “My old orthotics just weren’t supporting my arch like they should,” Dawn explains. “So, not only did I need physical therapy to build up the muscle, but I needed better orthotics.” Penrose fitted Dawn for her custom orthotics by painting on a cast. “I could see an improvement pretty darn quick,” she adds.
“I hear this type of story all day long,” says Penrose. “People live with the pain for years. Physical therapy ,when done correctly, is still able to help, even years later. I took the time to look at her walking mechanics, give her orthotics that work for her (not too rigid and not too soft), worked on her foot and ankle for hands-on treatments to restore normal flexibility and motion and allow healing to occur in the tissues and gave her corrective exercises.”
Dawn’s program lasted several weeks and within that time, she said she saw a 90 percent improvement. “I still have little flair ups, but nothing I can’t handle.”
Thanks to Penrose Physical Therapy, Ivy is getting her daily walks again and Dawn can get back to her many activities including golf, yoga, aerobics and Zumba.
“Jennifer was such a blessing to me,” Dawn says. “She pays attention to how you feel, what hurts and what’s getting better. I have gone to other physical therapy groups over the years, but this is by far the best I’ve been to.”
If you would like more information on how help with your foot pain, visit the Penrose & Associates Physical Therapy website, call 360-456-1444 or stop by 1445 Galaxy Dr. NE Suite 301 in Lacey.
