Runners Training for the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival: Preventing Plantar Fasciitis With Cold Laser Therapy

There’s something special about running through downtown Lake Worth during Street Painting Festival season. The energy is contagious. But as local runners ramp up their mileage for the event, which will be held February 21-22, 2026, we’re seeing a familiar pattern in our clinic: plantar fasciitis.

That stabbing heel pain when you first step out of bed? That’s your plantar fascia crying for help. This thick band of tissue running along your foot’s bottom develops micro-tears from repetitive impact. Increase your training too quickly, and those tears accumulate faster than your body can repair them.

Early Treatment Makes All the Difference

Here’s the thing about plantar fasciitis—it responds incredibly well to early intervention. Wait too long, and you’re looking at months of recovery instead of weeks.

Cold laser therapy accelerates healing by stimulating cellular repair in the damaged fascia tissue. It reduces inflammation, increases blood flow, and helps your body rebuild stronger tissue. Unlike cortisone shots or NSAIDs that just mask symptoms, laser therapy actually addresses the underlying damage.

“We see runners make a common mistake—they push through heel pain thinking it’ll resolve on its own,” says Dr. Francisco Colón. “The runners who come in early, combine cold laser therapy with proper stretching and corrective exercises, are usually back to full training within weeks. It’s about treating the root cause while giving your body the tools it needs to heal properly.”