Plantar Fasciitis Therapy and Overpronation: Effective Medical Procedures

Most people who experience heel pain think that it is something minor and will subside by simply lying down and engaging in less physical activity. However, in some cases the heel pain is an indication of something more serious. Abnormal foot issues such as overpronation or low foot arches can lead to more acute conditions such as plantar fasciitis. This often disabling pain in the heel area of the foot can be treated in sterile condition as an outpatient cure.
Overpronation and Flat Feet Can Lead to Serious Anatomical Issues
As reported by the American Podiatric Medical Association, plantar fasciitis can be caused by abnormal gait or foot anatomy. These issues can include overpronation and fallen arches, for instance. When the feet and leg biomechanics are out of line with the other parts of the body, undue weight and impact are put on bones and ligaments of the feet that are not intended to bear those pressures. One manifestation of this, jumping or even being over your ideal weight can be contributing factors for heel pain.
Solutions and Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
A surgical option called Instep Plantar Fasciotomy is a plantar fasciitis treatment that is done under ankle block anesthesia (patient is awake but the foot is numbed). The plantar fascia is a ligament of tissue at the root of pain caused by this condition. The doctor makes an incision in the heel across the length of the heel. The inflamed and injured tissues are taken out from the affected foot. Once the opening is closed, a walking boot is required for an estimated 4-6 weeks, depending upon the healing time for the patient.
Plantar Fasciitis Can Be Treated Non-Surgically
Another medical procedure being used today is one that involves low-level sound waves. Called extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), this solution aims to use small amounts of sound waves to destroy the affected tissues in the heel. It sounds illogical, but it isn’t. The damaging of these tissues in tiny amounts actually evokes the body’s healing response and helps the plantar fasciitis to resolve itself. In a 2004 study, it took about two months for eight hundred participants to heal completely with about eighty five percent success.
Cut Healing Time Dramatically with this Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
The final medical procedure that is becoming more popular simply because it requires less recovery time is an endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. In this procedure, the foot is anesthetized while the patient is conscious. Given that some physicians may prefer to use a general anesthesia, that is also a valid way to carry out the surgery with reduced stress to the patient. Small slits are made in the lateral and anterior angles of the heel to access the affected tissues. A camera is used to help the physician to find the plantar fascia ligament. Once it has been identified, it is surgically fixed so that it can heal properly.
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis is Better Today than Ever Before
Statistics show that surgery is needed in about five percent of the cases to heel pain from plantar fasciitis. It is recommended to be aware of the procedures that podiatrists are using today. Continuing with PT (physical therapy) is one of the best things people can do after undergoing any of these procedures. Manual manipulation, water pool exercise, and lengthening the tissues are just some of the many methods that can help. For patients with walking gait deformities and biomechanical problems such as overpronation or flat feet, orthotic inserts are recommended to stop reappearance of this painful condition.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 5th, 2011 at 7:42 pm and is filed under Cures and Remedies . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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