Plantar Fasciitis

Like most people I am sure you have heard the term Plantar Fasciitis but unless you have suffered from it you may not know what it is. Here is an overview so you can be more well-informed. If any of this sounds familiar to something you are suffering with feel free to call our office so we can help you with a treatment plan. 

Plantar Fasciitis

Anatomy:  The plantar fascia is a thick, broad, inelastic band of fibrous tissue that courses along the bottom (plantar surface) of the foot. It is attached to the heel bone (calcaneus) and fans out to attach to the bottom of the metatarsal bones in the region of the ball of the foot. Because the normal foot has an arch, this tight band of tissue (plantar fascia) is at the base of the arch. In this position, the plantar fascia acts like a bowstring to maintain the arch of the foot.

Causes: Plantar fasciitis refers to an inflammation of the plantar fascia. The inflammation in the tissue is the result of some type of injury to the plantar fascia. Typically, plantar fasciitis results from repeated trauma to the tissue where it attaches to the calcaneus. This repeated trauma often results in microscopic tearing of the plantar fascia at or near the point of attachment of the tissue to the calcaneus. The result of the damage and inflammation is pain.

 If there is significant injury to the plantar fascia, the inflammatory reaction of the heel bone may produce spike-like projections of new bone called heel spurs. The spurs are not the cause of the initial pain of plantar fasciitis; they are the result of the problem. Most heel spurs are painless. Occasionally, they are associated with pain and discomfort and require medical treatment or even surgical removal Plantar fasciitis (heel-spur syndrome) is a common problem among people active in sports, especially runners. It typically starts as a dull, intermittent pain in the heel and may progress to sharp, constant pain. Often, it is worse in the morning or after sitting, and then decreases as the patient begins to walk around. In addition, the pain usually increases after standing or walking for long periods of time, and at the beginning of a sporting activity. Often people who develop plantar fasciitis have several risk factors for doing so. 

They include: 

• Flat feet

• High arched, rigid feet 

• Increasing age and family tendency 

• Running on toes, hills or very soft surfaces (sand) 

• Poor arch support in shoes 

• Rapid change in activity level

TREATMENT: Fortunately, the majority of cases of plantar fasciitis respond favorably to non-operative treatment such as chiropractic care. However, the recovery time varies tremendously from patient to patient. While some patients may be healed after 6 weeks of treatment, others may require 6 months or longer for recovery. In addition, the methods of treatment that may work for one patient may not be successful in another patient. Typically, the methods of treatment that are attempted include anti-inflammatory mediation, icing, stretching, Graston Technique, activity modification, and heel inserts.

Gateway Bay Colony Chiropractic - 281-337-7000  - www.gatewaybaycolony.com