Foot Ankle International studied that Plantar Fasciitis affects more than 1 million people per year.
Plantar Fasciitis is a self-limiting condition, but two-thirds of the patients seek help from health care professionals.
Have you ever had fear of standing back up after resting from a run you just completed 20 minutes ago? You might realize that you walk dependently on the outside edge of the foot to avoid placing pressure on the painful heel or sole of the feet.
If you have ever encountered such soreness or discomfort, you would most likely have the most common heel pain condition – Plantar Fasciitis.
Causes
The pain felt on the sole of the feel suggests possible micro-tears at the calcaneal tendon attachment from prolonged standing or running. The pain is particularly acute when getting up in the morning or after resting from physical activity.
Plantar Fasciitis has a high prevalence among adults. Obesity is one of the risk factors. Having a body mass index greater than 30kg per m2 increases the strain and stress on the fascia. A change in the foot biomechanics disrupts the shock absorption ability causing overstress injury to the fascia on the sole.
Studies have also found that the tightness of posterior muscles of the lower limb is present in runners with Plaster Fasciitis. Another cause of Plantar Fasciitis depends on the demands of your sport or your occupation, whether or not a professional runner, military personnel, or lecturers with prolonged running, walking, or standing.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis occur at the beginning of an activity after rest. For instance, the first step you take after waking up in the morning or standing up after resting from long hours of walking or being on your feet. The heel pain typically improves with activity as it warms up.
Radiographic imaging such as X-ray, Ultrasonography, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful to rule out other heel and soft tissue pathology. According to the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, subcalcaneal spurs or heel spurs do not support the diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis is predominantly a mechanical pathology, however, the possibility of neurologic, arthritic, traumatic, or other systemic conditions that causes heel pain should not be overlooked.
Treatments
Plantar Fasciitis pain can be disabling. If left untreated, chronic recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis can lead to other foot, knee, pelvic, hip, and back problems due to the way pain impact the normal walking pattern.
Through clinical experiences, various health care professionals have witnessed patients with Plantar Fasciitis be self-limiting.
Here are some self-remedies you can attempt. At some occasions, Plantar Fasciitis pain may affect one’s daily activity and quality of life.
- Deep Tissue Massage
You can get a professional masseuse to rub on tissue at the bottom of your foot, but for those who are looking for a home remedy, you can look no further than a humble tennis ball. Step on a tennis ball with a light pressure, feeling like a deep massage. Roll it under your foot for a few minutes can help loosen up your Plantar Fascia.
- Classic Wall Calf Stretch
Stand a little less than an arm’s distance from the wall. Step your right leg forward and left leg back, keeping your feet parallel. Bend your right knee and press through your left heel. You should feel a stretch in the lower part of your leg. Hold it for 30 seconds and switch leg. Repeat 3 times each side.
Who to seek for when you have Plantar Fasciitis?
The important factor to consider who to seek help from not to know who can provide the best, but which therapy suits your the best.
Every health care professional has their scope of practice and very own specialty. Some athletes may opt for co-managing their conditions between different professionals to assist recovery.
- Family Physician
A family physician may prescribe oral anti-inflammatory medication and/or paracetamol to help manage pain and swelling. However, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can provide effective short-term improvement for Plantar Fasciitis pain. Some doctors may opt for ultrasonography-guided corticosteroid injection or platelet-rich plasma injection at the area of maximum point tenderness, necessary for tissue healing.
- Podiatrist
A foot and ankle specialist will evaluate your gait pattern to improve your running form. At the same time, you may be prescribed with Plantar Fascia brace, heel cups, arch supports, foot orthotics, and/or night splints to manage heel pain. A custom foot orthotic used in conjunction with night splint is effective for runners to get heel pain relief and improve foot function.
- Chiropractor
Chiropractic adjustments, combined with proper footwear and exercises can make the pain go away. The foot is a very complex structure and if any of the small joints get stuck, they can become very painful. By adjusting the misaligned joints, it helps to restore the movements of those joints.
Chiropractors can also manage leg length discrepancy from sacroiliac joint restrictions and knee alignment to reduce excessive stress that may contribute damage to the painful foot or altered postural/gait pattern due to compensation from pain.
- Physiotherapist
A physiotherapist provides guidance to patient-directed treatments. This includes eccentric calf muscle stretching and deep manual myofascial therapy, where they can perform at home. The slow lengthening stretch of the muscle prevents plantar fascia contracture and increasing the blood flow to promote healing.
In addition to that, they incorporate treatments like shock wave therapy, cryotherapy plus bracing to runners, assisting you during your pain-full phase. Depending on what your sport or lifestyle entails, they will customize and create a progressed training regime to optimize you for a complete return to sports.
- Orthopedic Surgeon
If you do not respond to non-invasive therapies, you should consider consulting an orthopedic surgeon for specialized care, either surgical or non-conservative, more invasive treatment therapies. An orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons.
