Plantar Fasciitis Research Paper

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of a thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. This tissue is called the plantar fascia and connects the heel bone to the toes, creating the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain (heel spurs). It occurs especially among athletes and is caused by the continuous repetition of excessive overload at breech.

As we age, the plantar fascia loses elasticity and no longer able to grow well. The fat pad on the heel and tapers cannot absorb shocks that arise when walking. Shocks excessive damage the plantar fascia that can then swell, tear or bruise. The patient may notice a bruise or swelling suspect in the heel.

When a patient is suffering from plantar fasciitis the connective tissue that forms the arch of the foot is inflamed and degenerating fraying. Both of these abnormalities can make quite painful common activities such as shopping or stairs.
The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is just pain, often more severe upon waking and located on the inside of the heel.
After this first twinge pain tends to decrease rather rapidly to reappear after a long walk or at the end of the day (in severe cases).
In sports, the pain usually occurs in the initial stages of heating and then disappears As training continues. In sports are particularly at risk the distance runners, jumpers and football players.

Usually the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is made after careful clinical evaluation of symptoms. Imaging techniques, such as X-rays and CT are usually not necessary but may be useful in detecting or ruling out other causes of heel pain (arthritis astragalus heel, stress fractures, tumors etc.).

A)Care and
Treatment:
1. Decreased walking or running; if you walk or run very often. You probably will not need to stop completely.
2. If you have flat feet or too arched, ask your doctor if it is appropriate to use orthotics that support the arch. The plantar orthotics must be custom made.
3. If you are overweight, weight loss may be helpful to decrease heel pain.
4. If, for work, you have to be a long standing on a hard surface without being able to move, put a pillow or some protection on the floor.
B)Drug Therapy
To relieve heel pain can be useful: the aspirin, the naproxen, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Before you start using them, always asks your doctor for advice. If stretching, arch supports, medications and exercise seem useless, the doctor can recommend other therapies.
1) Physiotherapy:
The physical therapist will show you a series of stretching exercises to the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg. This will help to stabilize the ankle and heel. The physical therapist can also teach to apply the bandages athletic, able to support the bottom of the foot.
2) Night splints:
The physical therapist or physician may advise to wear throughout the night an apparatus holding in tension the calf and the arch. The splint is used to keep the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon tension at night and helps you stretch.
3) Cortisone:
The drugs of this type should be administered via iontophoresis, a process in which the solution of the drug is applied on the skin of the affected area and the drug is absorbed with the help of an electric current of very slight intensity.

Make sure your ankle, Achilles tendon and calf muscles with adequate training and stretching exercises and employing the right sports shoes can help prevent plantar fasciitis.