Content 1. Plantar Fasciitis Causes and Treatments 2. Plantar Fasciitis Shoes 3. Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms 4. Plantar Fasciitis - Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Persistent Heel and Foot Pain 5. Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis to Look Out For
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1. Plantar Fasciitis Causes and Treatments Plantar fasciitis is the medical terminology used to describe inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the ligament that supports the longitudinal arch of the foot. The plantar fascia is a tough, fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from the heel bone to the bones in the ball of the foot and is perhaps the strongest ligament in the human body. The disease is caused by repetitive strain to this ligament and is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia flattens and lengthens when a person stands and applies weight to the foot. The plantar fascia shortens or contracts when a person sits or lies down. Walking, running, and jumping repeatedly shortens and lengthens the plantar fascia over and over again and can result in strain. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include a dull pain in the heel or arch that comes and goes. This dull pain can increase to a sharp, constant pain over time. Other symptoms may include a noticeable tightness of the calf muscles. A slightly different pain related indicator of plantar fasciitis could be a very sharp pain and/or inflammation of the heel or foot in the morning or after resting the feet for long periods of time which then slowly subsides after walking or some other activity that allows the plantar fascia to gradually 'warm-up'. Plantar fasciitis is frequently caused by an abrupt or sudden increase in activity or exercise. It is another of the 'weekend warrior' type injuries. Plantar fasciitis can also result from both 'fallen arches' or 'flat feet' as well as from a person having high arches. The development of problems with the arches in the foot in these cases usually results from individuals wearing shoes that offer little or no foot or arch support and/or very thin soles. Gaining a significant
amount of weight over a short amount of time can also result in excessive stress on the plantar fascia and pain and inflammation in the heel or arch. Other potential causes include: running uphill, on the balls of the feet, or on uneven surfaces. Plantar fasciitis also appears to be related to genetics as cases of plantar fasciitis are frequently reported by individuals that have other family members who suffer from the same condition. Plantar fasciitis can be treated with the help of a physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, athletic trainer, or another medical professional that is familiar with the causes of strain and inflammation. Treatment may consist of stretching and exercise to increase the flexibility of the plantar fascia and other surrounding joints and tissues. Massage, heat, and/or electrical stimulation or ultrasound may be applied to reduce the pain, promote healing of the damaged tissues, and/or increase the extensibility of the tendons and ligaments of the foot. Ice and/or iontophoresis using a corticosteroid may also be used to reduce the inflammation in the plantar fascia. An insole or custom orthotic may be prescribed or a brace or tape may be applied to provide additional foot support to avoid further strain. Finally, an individual suffering from plantar fasciitis may be instructed to wear a splint on the affected foot during the night which keeps the plantar fascia in a somewhat stretched or elongated position so that it cannot shorten or contract during extended rest and become inflamed and irritated when it is re-stretched in the morning.
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2. Plantar Fasciitis Shoes Of the many causes of plantar fasciitis, one out of the most prevalent is an improperly fitted shoe. It is very important to pay attention to having an appropriate shoe for daily use and for sports. A badly fitting shoe can cause painful problems in the feet, especially for athletes, and can lead to plantar fasciitis. Shoes having inadequate cushioning at the heel and the forefoot and lacking in proper support around the arch and the middle of the foot may put a lot of stress on the plantar fascia while running, jumping or exercising. Excessive pressure and stress result in pain and inflammation in the plantar fascia. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< Shoes specially designed for the patients of plantar fasciitis are available and do not require additional orthotics for pain relief. These shoes come with all the built-in features to provide relief from pain and also help to overcome the deficiency in the biomechanics of the feet. Those experiencing plantar fasciitis due to abnormal gait or flat feet may use motion-controlled shoes. These shoes are designed to be heavy and inflexible, with thick heels and dual-density midsoles in order to correct the walking style of a person. These shoes are built upon a straight last A more flexible shoe with a relatively lesser dual-density midsole and heel than the motion-controlled shoes are available for people with less severe problems. These are called stability shoes and are built upon a semi-curved last. People suffering from planar fasciitis owing to high arches may buy shoes that are flexible and well cushioned with soft midsole. These shoes have a semi-curved or a curved last.
While buying a walking shoe, a plantar fasciitis patient must see that the shoe does not have a high heel and always bends at the ball of the foot and not at any other place. Moreover, when pushed downwards at the toe, the heel must lift upwards from a level surface. A good shoe is one that provides adequate arch support, is sufficiently cushioned both at the heels and the midsole, and is flexible. The shoe should blend with the natural walking motion of the wearer. For a plantar fasciitis patient, it would be beneficial to get expert advice from a technical shoe store salesperson who would weigh all the factors including the weight, stride, gait, and walking distance before suggesting the right shoe. The best shoe is the one that gives the greatest walking comfort.
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3. Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a tough fibrous band of tissue that runs from the heel bone to the base of the toes. Excessive stretching of plantar fascia through physical activities like running and jumping or from natural causes such as flat feet, high arches or overpronation (feet rolling in or flattening) leads to the development of tears in the plantar fascia. These tears in the plantar fascia result in symptoms of pain and inflammation. The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is the feeling of acute pain in the inner side of the heel. If an intense pain is felt in the heel on taking the first few steps in the morning, then it is most likely a case of plantar fasciitis. The pain eases as the day progresses because the plantar fascia gradually stretches due to warming up of the feet. Sometimes, the pain may start as a dull pain in the heel and the arch and may later accentuate to a sharp, persisting pain. Patients suffering from plantar fasciitis may also find climbing stairs or walking on the toes very painful. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< The pain is also noticed when an individual resumes walking or standing after a long rest. For those who routinely exercise, pain that may disappear at the beginning may return after the completion of the exercise. The other symptoms that are generally associated with plantar fasciitis are tenderness in the heel and tightness in the calf muscles. There are certain other conditions that may be confused with the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is one among them. A stress fracture of the heel bone, ruptured plantar fascia, rheumatological conditions, wearing down of the heel fat pad and
problems with the circulation can cause pain in the heel. The doctor must be consulted if the pain persists for a long time, and the right cause of the pain must be diagnosed.
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4. Plantar Fasciitis - Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Persistent Heel and Foot Pain Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition of the feet, affecting the plantar fascia -- the strong band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia connects the heel bone to the toes. When it becomes inflamed, stressed or injured the result is pain along the bottom of the foot back to the heel. This is what is known as plantar fasciitis - inflammation of the fascia. This supportive tissue is also subject to more severe injury, partial tears or even full ruptures in the most severe cases. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Typically the pain is worse on first getting up in the morning then eases as the day goes on. Prolonged standing or walking, however, can make the pain worse. Conservative treatment, including natural therapies or home remedies, can help. When these fail, platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) can help to relieve foot pain. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< Plantar fasciitis is commonly seen in runners. Other factors that can lead to this painful condition are being overweight, wearing shoes with poor arch support or high heeled shoes. Symptoms are characterized by gradual onset of foot pain either affecting one or both feet. Stabbing foot and heel pain with the first few steps of the morning are typical. This condition is more commonly seen in women. It is estimated that there are 2 million new cases of plantar fasciitis a year in the United States. Over a lifetime, 10% of individuals will experience this painful condition.
How does plantar fasciitis develop? The plantar fascia is like a bowstring that provides support for the foot. If the tension on this foot support structure is too great, it can become overly stretched eventually resulting in small tears in the fascia. This is a vicious cycle, the end result is foot and heel pain that is resistant to conventional therapies such as massage, stretching, anti-inflammatory agents and steroid injections. Steroid injections into the plantar fascia carry the extra risk of causing complete rupture (tearing) of the bowstring-like plantar fascia. Typically, it can take 6-8 months of treatment to heal the average case of plantar fasciitis. A torn fascia may take much longer to heal or may never heal without some other intervention. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< How can PRP help plantar fasciitis? Platelet rich plasma therapy is a novel, non-surgical approach to the treatment of plantar fasciitis. PRP is derived from your own blood. Blood is drawn from your arm and put into a special machine that separates out the PRP. Platelet rich plasma contains growth factors, cytokines, proteins and other components that stimulate natural tissue healing and regrowth. PRP is the highly concentrated healing part of the blood. With the best centrifuges, concentrations of platelets of up to 700% can be obtained. PRP is administered as an injection in the heel area where the plantar fascia is attached. It works by regenerating and healing damaged tissue in the plantar fascia. This is done with local anesthesia to minimize the discomfort. PRP works by using the body's own natural healing mechanism to repair the damaged or torn plantar fascia. Healing time is 6-8 weeks, a dramatic
improvement over the typical natural history of 6-8 months to heal with other therapies. Most of the time, it will help to avoid foot surgery. In conclusion, plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot and heel pain. It can be treated with standard conservative measures, weight loss and improved foot wear, including orthotic shoe inserts. Many individuals continue to experience pain in their feet and heels. If you have daily heel or foot pain which does not seem to be getting better, you may be an excellent candidate for platelet rich plasma therapy. Platelet rich plasma therapy is an ideal, natural treatment for foot/heel pain and plantar fasciitis which has not responded to other conventional therapies.
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5. Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis to Look Out For Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of a specific grouping of tissues called the plantar fascia which run between the bottom of the heel and the toes. If this fibrous tissue is continuously and vigorously overstretched, by activities such as jumping or running, there is a chance of developing plantar fasciitis. The condition involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, with pain most commonly felt on the underside of the heel, although the condition can affect any part of the plantar fascia, and produce painful episodes anywhere between the heel bone and the ball of the foot. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< Plantar Fasciitis Causes Flat feet Excessively high foot arches Overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the feet whilst walking and running) Obesity Leading a sedentary lifestyle with a lack of exercise Trauma Ill fitting shoes Strenuous exercise is often the culprit, with the condition experienced by athletes and sports lovers who fail to take adequate periods of rest to allow the muscles and the plantar fascia to recover. When muscles become fatigued, a greater strain is placed on the arches and the plantar fascia and damage becomes more likely. The anatomy of the foot can make people predisposed to develop
plantar fasciitis, with gait abnormalities causing excessive forces to act on the plantar fascia. Shoes with a lack of arch support are commonly at fault, which could be old running shoes, flip-flops or even barefoot shoes. Any footwear which requires the muscles in the feet to work harder, or leased the arches unsupported can contribute to this condition. Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms All the above factors may lead to the development of tiny tears forming in the plantar fascia, and the main symptom is pain in the heel or the underside of the foot, with the severity of the pain depending on the extent of the condition. The pain is confined to the heel, foot arch and to a much lesser extent, the ball of the foot. The pain is often more acute when one has been immobile for a while; for instance after sleeping for several hours. The reason for this is that the tissues in the foot contract significantly during rest and the sudden stretching when the first few steps are taken can cause intense pain. As the plantar fascia expands more as one walks, the pain usually decreases to some extent, although may remain as a persistence ache rather than the stabbing pain often experienced first thing in the morning. >>>For More Information Please Click Here!<<< Managing Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms It is important to seek medical attention if the pain does not abate after a few days of rest. It is only through the right diagnosis and medical treatment that this condition can be managed, and an early diagnosis will shorten the recovery period significantly. Rest is helpful, as the pain is not usually felt when the weight is off the feet, however stretching exercises are advised to prevent the plantar
fascia from contracting. There are a number of plantar fasciitis exercises which can help to gently stretch out the plantar fascia and speed up the healing process. Many sufferers find that orthotic devices such as heel seats eradicate the pain totally, with plantar fasciitis splints another highly effective treatment.
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