Plantar Fasciitis – Part 2 - Health Plus Digest

The most common complaints of pain are those that are on the bottom of the foot near the heel but if you suffer from plantar fasciitis you may also feel stabbing pain in the arch of the foot. Most often you experience pain when you first get up in the morning or after a long time of sitting and resting. This pain is caused from the tendon shortening while resting and then stretching when you begin walking.

Sometimes plantar fasciitis is a self-limiting condition, especially if the extra stressors are removed from the situation. But, if they don’t resolve then other treatments must be instituted. Your doctor may recommend rest, strengthening, stretching, night splints, arch supports, change of shoes, anti-inflammatory medications, injections, physical therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy or surgery. These recommendations will depend upon the stresses that caused the inflammation in the first place.

After 12 months of aggressive therapy your physician may consider a surgical option, including gastrocnemius recession in which the calf muscle is surgically lengthened or a fascia release, during which the ligament is partially cut to release the tension.

Nonsurgical treatment will almost always improve the pain, but treatment can last several months. You can prevent this type of injury by staying flexible and not increasing your athletic activity quickly or drastically.

References:

(1) American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00149

Resources:

American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Societ: Plantar Fasciitis

http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/conditions/ailments-of-the-heel/Pages/Plantar-Fasciitis.aspx

Sports Injury Clinic: Plantar Fasciitis

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/foot-heel-pain/plantar-fasciitis

SportsMedicine: Plantar Fasciitis

http://www.sportsmed.org/uploadedFiles/Content/Patient/Sports_Tips/ST%20Plantar%20Fasciitis%2008.pdf

Runners World: Plantar Fasciitis

http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/plantar-fasciitis