Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is the most common condition of heel pain. This condition occurs when the plantar fascia, the long fibrous ligament along the bottom of the foot, develops tears in the tissue, resulting in pain and inflammation. The pain of plantar fasciitis is usually located close to where the fascia ligament attaches to the he heel bone.

The most common complaint from plantar fasciitis is a burning, stabbing or aching pain in the heel of the foot. Most sufferers will be able to feel it in the morning, because the fascia ligament tightens up during the night while we sleep, causing pain to diminish. However, when we climb out of bed and place pressure on the ligament, it becomes taut and pain is particularly acute. Pain usually decreases as the tissue warms up, but may easily return again after long periods of standing or weight bearing, physical activity or after getting up after long periods of lethargy or sitting down.

In most cases, plantar fasciitis does not require surgery or invasive procedures to stop pain and reverse damage. Conservative treatments are usually all that is required. However, every person's body responds to plantar fasciitis treatment differently and recovery times may vary.

There are a number of plantar fasciitis causes. The plantar fascia ligament is like a rubber band and loosens and contracts with movement. It also absorbs significant weight and pressure. Because of this function, plantar fasciitis can easily occur from a number of reasons. Among the most common is an overload of physical activity or exercise. Athletes are particularly prone to plantar fasciitis and commonly suffer from it. Excessive running, jumping or other activities can easily place repetitive or excessive stress on the tissue and lead to tears and inflammation, resulting in moderate to severe pain. Athletes who change or increase the difficulty of their exercise routines are also prone to overdoing it and causing damage.

Perhaps the most common cause of plantar fasciitis is due to a fallen arch in the foot. This happens slowly over time due to normal daily activities such as working, cleaning or cutting the grass. This can be very frustrating for the patient as the pain just shows up one day and the patient usually says, "but Doc, I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary." One day, you feet feel fine and the next day you can be in significant pain.

Among the most popular factors that contribute to plantar fasciitis is wearing incorrect shoes. In many cases, shoes either do not fit properly, or provide inadequate support or cushioning. While walking or exercising in improper shoes, weight distribution becomes impaired, and significantly stress can be added to the plantar fascia ligament. Plantar fasciitis is also influenced by the mechanics of the foot. Having conditions such as flat feet, high arches, pronation or having an abnormal gait (the way in which the foot hits the ground), the fascia tissue can become overworked or stretched abnormally, resulting in tears and inflammation.

With so many causes of plantar fasciitis, there are many risk factors that suffers should be aware of. Needless to say, activity in sports and regular exercises can place significant stress on the heel and surrounding tissue. In addition, if you have high arches or flat feet, an orthotic shoe insert should be considered to counteract the stress caused by the abnormal mechanics of the foot. Age also plays a factor. As we age, tissue tends to become weaker and more prone to damage. In addition to these common risk factors, weight plays a huge role in damage to the heel. Since our heels absorb much of our body's pressure when we walk, being overweight can easily lead to damage and plantar fasciitis.

Pregnancy can also add a few extra pounds. However, the hormonal changes in pregnant women can also cause ligaments and other tissue to relax and become more pliable, which could lead to plantar fasciitis if you’re not careful. Those who are on their feet all day due to their occupation are also at risk. Finally, wearing high heeled show, boot or other shoes that do not provide proper support around the heel and through the arch can easily lead to plantar fasciitis over time.

Conservative treatment approaches are often successful in managing plantar fasciitis and revolve around reducing pain, promoting healing, restoring range of motion and strength, and limiting those biomechanical deviations caused by structural abnormalities. Soft tissue mobilization techniques can restore functional mobility to the plantar flexors and plantar fascia. They can be performed manually or with instruments. These procedures also can be used to promote tissue healing in chronic stages of soft tissue dysfunction.

The Graston Technique is a form of manual therapy that uses patented stainless steel instruments to restore soft tissue motion. Thees tools are used to detect and then break up scar tissue. This procedure has been shown to be highly effective in the management of both acute and chronic cases of plantar fasciitis.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact us at 507-645-8846.