Dr. Jennifer Xu, MS

Foot Rehab + Minimalist Shoes

for Plantar Fasciitis

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of 8 weeks of foot rehabilitation exercises in conjunction with wearing minimalist shoes in individuals with plantar fasciopathy, compared to only performing foot rehabilitation exercises. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will individuals with plantar fasciopathy be able to reduce their pain and improve their self-reported function by performing rehabilitation exercises and wearing minimalist shoes, compared to those only performing rehabilitation exercises? * Will individuals with plantar fasciopathy be able to increase their intrinsic foot muscle strength and size, their balance, and gait biomechanics by performing rehabilitation exercises and wearing minimalist shoes, compared to those only performing rehabilitation exercises? * What characteristics of individuals with plantar fasciopathy make them most suited to succeed in a protocol of performing rehabilitation exercises and wearing minimalist shoes? Participants will be asked to come into the lab at the start of the intervention and after 8 weeks, where the following will be assessed: * Patient-reported outcomes * Foot morphology * Intrinsic foot muscle strength * Balance * Gait biomechanics For the intervention, participants in both groups will perform the same rehabilitation exercises, including: * Massage to the bottom of the foot * Calf-raises * Calf and foot stretches