The plantar fascia is an anatomical structure that spans the plantar arch of the foot, from the heel to the metatarsal head, acting as a tension bridge in the foot, providing static and dynamic shock absorbing support during gait.
What is plantar fasciitis?
It is the most common cause of heel pain and is nothing more than an overload of this tensor that is found supporting the vault of the foot.
Excessive stretching of the plantar fascia can result in microtrauma to this structure. These microtraumas, if repetitive, can result in chronic degeneration of the plantar fascia fibers.
How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?
It is characterized by symptoms of intense pain in the heel or bridge of the foot, when you start walking in the morning or after long periods of rest. There may also be lameness and changes in the way you place your foot on the ground to relieve pain, walking on the outside of the foot, on tiptoe, etc.
Are there treatments for plantar fasciitis?
Yes, the success consists of understanding the etiology of the problem and consequently directing the treatment.
Treatments are aimed at relieving pain and decreasing damage to the plantar fascia. Traditional procedures include rest, icing, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), change of activity, corticosteroid injections, splints, shoe modifications and orthotics.
Other treatment techniques are aimed at resolving the degeneration caused by the disease process. Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) is used here, which is a biomedical technology that stimulates tissue regeneration by concentrating growth factors and other proteins present in the patient’s own blood plasma.
Recommendations for plantar fasciitis patients
- Use of shoes with support in the bridge of the foot and cushioned heels.
- Do not wear worn-out running shoes
- Change daily work shoes frequently
- Avoid prolonged standing
- Reduce weight
- Perform stretching of the plantar fascia and calf muscles before and after exercise.
- Performing an adequate warm-up before starting to exercise
- Do not exercise on hard surfaces
- Avoid walking barefoot on hard surfaces.
- Avoid high-impact sports that require a lot of jumping (e.g., aerobics and volleyball).
- Apply local cold for 15 minutes after repetitive load impact activities and at the end of the day.