What is plantar fasciitis?

It is a condition of the sole of the foot that produces intense pain and inflammation in the heel and that radiates to the toes due to being at rest or standing for a long time, excessive exercise, inadequate footwear to perform certain sports or work activities, overweight, or obesity. It is a fairly common condition among runners.

The plantar fascia supports the arch of the foot and absorbs the impact while you walk. Excessive stress causes tears that can inflame the sole of the foot and cause severe pain.

Although the exact cause of plantar fasciitis is unknown, several factors can contribute to its appearance, including:

• Excessively long plantar arch.
• Repetitive high-impact sports.
• It occurs most often in people over 40 years old.
• Badly treated sprain.
• Bad posture.
• Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or thyroid diseases.
• Adverse reaction to certain medications.
• Muscular overload that can cause muscle shortening or contractures, causing the plantar fascia to overstrain.
• Soft tissue strain from a joint or bone abnormality.

The symptoms usually appear in the morning, when you get up, causing:

• Severe pain in the sole of the foot and heel.
• Difficulty putting on shoes and walking.

The pain subsides with movement, but after prolonged standing or sitting, it returns. It usually gets worse after exercising.

Possible complications:

• Posture changes.
• Inability to perform daily activities.
• Depression.

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination that includes observation of the affected area, and will probably request additional tests that help confirm the diagnosis, such as X-rays or an MRI. Treatment focuses on relieving pain and inflammation and preserving mobility, through:

• Rest.
• Application of hot and cold compresses in the affected area.
• Painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises.
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Orthopedic devices such as:
  • Night splints.
  • Prefabricated or custom orthopedic insoles to reduce the pressure on the foot more evenly.

In more extreme cases, when the initial treatment isn’t working properly, your doctor may recommend:

• Intramuscular steroids in the area of greatest sensitivity.
• Shock wave therapy.
• Ultrasonic tissue repair through minimally invasive surgery.
• Surgery to separate the plantar fascia from the heel.

Depending on the severity of your case, plantar fasciitis can be healed in two to three months, sometimes longer.

At the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries.

We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

We put our skills and knowledge at your service to provide you and your loved ones with cutting-edge treatments and highly specialized medical care in the following procedures:

• Arthroscopic surgery.
• Partial and total joint replacement surgery (prostheses).
• Trauma surgery.
• Hand surgery.
• Foot and ankle surgery.
• Spinal surgery.

We treat injuries such as:

• Dislocation.
• Chronic bone and joint diseases.
• Ligaments.
• Spinal diseases.
• Joint replacements.

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
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