I had really bad PF a few years ago. The few times I tried jumping rope during that time, I could feel it was putting a ton of pressure where my foot is most vulnerable.
The point about strengthening the foot and supporting muscles is well taken though. If you just let those muscles atrophy, you are just asking for more PF eventually. My podiatrist basically said the same thing when he told me not to keep taping my foot forever - at some point you have to stress things again and let the muscles get stronger and improve your flexibility.
But for me, jumping rope put WAY too much pressure where I didn't want it. My PF is all but gone now, but a sure way for me to get some of that pain back is to either run a lot, or jump rope. And I've been through too much to risk that.
I'm sure this stuff is old hat to PF sufferers, but here is what worked for me:
- Anti-inflamatory regimen, my podiatrist prescribed something for me.
- Icing - buy some of those paper dixie cups, mix up some epsom salt with water, fill up the dixie cups and freeze them. Then use them as an ice rub for the bottom of your foot after exercise.
- Rest - don't do stuff that hurts. This is an extremely difficult injury to overcome. In all likelihood you will have to give up some/all of the normal activities you do and switch to PF-friendly activities - swimming, cycling, etc. Go slow or you'll have PF forever.
- Inserts - My podiatrist made me custom inserts that I wore all the time. I can't say for sure if they made a difference, but when you are dealing with something as troublesome as PF, you don't want to go half-ass with treating it.
- Lose weight - this is really the number one thing. Getting down to your target weight will save a ton of stress on your feet. Obviously this is the hardest one to do, but it is important to remember that being overweight absolutely contributes to PF.
- Tape - this really put me over the hump. I was trying everything and wasn't making much progress until finally I decided to tape my foot all the time. Three strips vertically along the bottom of my foot from heel to toe, and then a bunch of strips horizontally heel to toe to keep that in place. You want to be careful that you leave enough flexibility for your ankle.
- Stretching - I did calve stretches all the time, certainly before/after any exercise.
I think part of the benefit of taping and inserts is psychological - in your mind you are doing something to support your foot, which takes your mind off it somewhat. When you are too much focused on the injury, you can sometimes overcompensate and start walking/running, etc. unnaturally, which can aggrevate the PF.