Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition caused by excessive wear to the plantar fasciaof the foot. The pain usually is felt on the underside of the heel, and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. It is commonly associated with long periods of weight bearing. Obesity, sudden weight gain, jobs that require a lot of walking on hard surfaces, and inactivity are associated with this condition.

This condition often causes a heel spur(on the calcaneus) to develop, in which case it is the underlying condition, and not the spur itself, which produces the pain.

The mainstay of treatment is stretching of the Achilles tendonand the plantar fascia itself. Applying ice after activity, rest, and proper taping may also be used. To relieve pain and inflammation, the patient can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and should be encouraged to lessen activities which place more pressure on the feet. Occasionally, changing shoes to more comfortable types which provide more support can help. Exercises to stretch the plantar fascia may help. In patients with low or high arched feet, insole arch supports may assist recovery. Weight loss is highly encouraged if the condition is primarily due to this cause.

An alternate view of plantar fasciitis is held by Dr. John E. Sarno, who believes that plantar fasciitis is caused by emotional stress and is a form of tension myositis syndrome.

External links

• 50-page booklet on plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and heel pain. he:דורבן_(רפואה)

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar+fasciitis Wikipedia article Plantar fasciitis.