| What is Plantar Fasciitis? | | | | arthritis. |
| Plantar fasciitis (plant-tar fash-yee-eye-tis) is an | | | | How to prevent plantar fasciitis |
| inflammatory condition that affects the band of | | | | Prevention is of plantar fasciitis is quite easy. Good |
| flat tissue that supports the bottom of the feet. | | | | flexibility of lower extremity muscle groups of the |
| The role of the fascia is to assisting in supporting | | | | legs and feet. Correct fitting footwear and |
| the arch of the foot and to assist in making | | | | replacement of old shoes. Correction of postural |
| walking more efficient by distributing load of | | | | problems such as flatfeet, high arches, knee, hip |
| ground forces during the gait cycle. | | | | and lower back problems. Reduce weight and |
| What Causes Plantar Fasciitis | | | | gentle return to exercise. |
| Certain pre-existing conditions favour plantar | | | | What else could be causing my symptoms? |
| fasciitis, genetic predisposition, excessive rigidity in | | | | Arthritis, nerve entrapment syndrome, tarsal |
| the feet, overly high arches, flat feet, excessive | | | | tunnel syndrome, chronic compartment syndrome |
| pronation, toe runners, soft and flat running | | | | of the foot, vascular occlusion, exercise induced |
| surfaces...such as the beach and improper | | | | foot pain caused by vascular occlusion, |
| footwear and footwear that haven't been | | | | intermittent claudication caused by vascular |
| specially fitted. These all lead to the development | | | | disease, heel spur syndrome, fat pad atrophy, |
| of micro-trauma to the plantar fascia, setting up | | | | systemic arthritis, fibromyalgia, medial calcaneal |
| inflammatory reaction of the tissue particularly at | | | | nerve neuroma, piezogenic papule syndrome. |
| the origin of the fascia at the medial and inferior | | | | How is it diagnosed? |
| heel. Repeated trauma to this area can cause the | | | | Clinically, presentation of symptoms and location. |
| inflammatory reaction to produce bone and this | | | | X-ray may be helpful in diagnosing soft tissue |
| continues long enough microscopic bone spurs | | | | swelling and the presence of spurring of the heel |
| form placing even more pressure, tension on the | | | | bone. Ultrasound is good for diagnosis of injured |
| plantar heel structures and the plantar fascia. | | | | soft tissues and MRI would be test of choice as it |
| Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis | | | | practically covers soft tissue, bone and intra-bone |
| Symptoms begin as localised pain, sharp, dull in | | | | pathology. Sometimes a bone scan may be useful |
| nature at the heel pad extending into the arch of | | | | in diagnosis of stress fractures. |
| the foot. Most soreness present in the middle of | | | | When should I see a Podiatrist or Foot Specialist |
| the arch. The sensation here can feel like a | | | | about this condition? |
| "tearing" sensation along the arch of the foot. Pain | | | | Ideally on the onset of pain. Within the first 2 |
| tends to be worse first thing in the morning with | | | | weeks of the presentation of symptoms. The |
| pain reducing once getting mobile. | | | | longer symptoms present for the worse the |
| What increases the chances of getting this | | | | condition tends to get, though this is not always |
| condition? | | | | the case. They will help properly diagnose the |
| Overweight, sudden increases in volume and | | | | condition and implement a treatment plan. |
| intensity of exercise, a change in job from being | | | | How successful are treatments? |
| sedentary to standing. Incorrect footwear, | | | | The treatments typically help 80-90% of clients |
| footwear that has worn out or poorly fitting | | | | resolve or significantly reduce their problem so |
| shoes. Poor foot posture, injury to lower limbs | | | | that you are able to get back to your normal |
| and pelvis, surgery to the lower limb whereby | | | | activities. Treatments are general not immediate |
| there is a change in walking style. Reduced | | | | though can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to |
| flexibility or muscles or the presence of systemic | | | | 12-16 weeks to resolve. |