Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis

Once a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is made, treatment can begin immediately. For a patient seen in my office for the first time with this condition, one of the first treatments I offer is to apply strapping to the bottom of the foot. What this does is to help relieve tension on the plantar fascia. Once applied, many patients say they can tell an immediate difference in the level of pain that they are experiencing. Obviously, strapping the foot with tape is not a permanent treatment for this condition. What it does do, however, is provide temporally relief of symptoms. I have found that when patients obtain relief with foot strapping, that they will also find relief in most cases with functional foot orthotics. The strapping is usually left on the foot for two to three days, and during that time it needs to be kept dry. A plastic bag can be placed around the foot and ankle to keep it dry during bathing.



The use of anti inflammatory medication (such as aspirin, Motrin, etc.) is also useful in treating plantar fasciitis. While this does not treat the cause of the problem, it may help relieve the symptoms.



Over the counter cushioned arch supports may also be recommended to give support to the arch and cushioning to the heel. In some cases, this may be all that's needed to treat your heel pain. You should look for an arch support that will actually support your arch, and at the same time give adequate cushioning. I recommend Spenco® Polysorb® Walker/Runner Premium Insoles. They can be purchased at my office, and at many fine shoe stores. The advantage they have is that they tend to hold up well with use, and have a one-year unconditional guarantee. They are also accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association.



For instant relief, I will offer patients samples of Biofreeze®, a topical pain reliever, which can help relieve the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. It is applied to the affected area of the foot multiple times a day, and I find that patients love it! You can read more about Biofreeze® on my Foot Product review blog at http://footproductreviews.blogspot.com/.



Finally, Stretching of the plantar fascia is very helpful, especially in the morning when you get out of bed. This is done in a couple of ways. First, sit on the side of your bed and grab your foot. Then, pull your foot upwards, pulling the toes towards your knee. By stretching the plantar fascia, you may help reduce the pain you experience when you first get out of bed in the morning.



On subsequent visits, more definitive treatments are initiated. Taking impressions of the feet for functional foot orthotics almost always tops my list. On the next post, I'll discuss orthotics in more detail.






1 comment:

  1. Tim,
    This article was very informative. I have had this condition for many years. In fact as a child I had to wear special shoes for the problem. Thanks for the helpful tips to reduce the pain.
    karen g

    ReplyDelete