Did you know that it’s estimated that 10 percent of the population will be affected by plantar fasciitis? Although there are a few other reasons one could feel pain or tenderness in their foot, plantar fasciitis is responsible for 80% of heel pain cases. In fact, more than two million people undergo treatment for this pain each year in the United States. The yearly cost of plantar fasciitis assessment and treatment is around $284 million!
Plantar Fasciitis is a common repetitive strain injury that can affect anyone who spends extensive amounts of time on their feet. There are certain risk factors that can increase your likelihood of experiencing this sharp pain in the fascia tissues of the feet. Contrary to popular belief, plantar fasciitis is not the same condition as heel spurs, although they share similar characteristics.
Let’s take a deeper look into what’s going on when we experience Plantar Fasciitis. Do you feel foot pain most often in the morning when you are just getting out of bed? If so, you’re not alone! That’s one of the most common symptoms when people experience plantar fasciitis.
The Plantar Fascia is a ligament that extends from the bones in the toes to the heel bone. This thick band is comprised of collagen fibers that provides the ligament strength when we place our weight on the arch of our foot when walking on running. Whenever we begin to take a step, the fascia tightens and increases the arch height, which shortens the foot and helps our body propel in a forward motion.
Whenever there is excessive stress put on the plantar fascia, the tissue can endure micro tears. After a while, these micro tears weaken the tissue and can create further injury if not treated. Most often, plantar fascia injuries take months for the wear and tear to finally develop and create pain. If there is an acute injury or rupture in the fascia ligament, the pain can occur immediately.
For about one week after a plantar fascia injury, our bodies will respond by sending extra blood flow to the area which will begin the healing process and in turn, create inflammation in the area, also known as Plantar Fasciitis. If this condition is left untreated and continual stress is placed on the feet, reinjury and degeneration of the fascia can occur, which would be called Plantar Fasciosis.
Although these terms may sound synonymous and occur in the same area, these two painful conditions can actually have different causes and relief treatments. Both plantar fasciitis and plantar fasciosis pain is often felt as a sharp pain in the arch and heel of the foot. Individuals who experience either one of these conditions can find relief with hands-on joint mobilization and stretching.
It has been proven in patients that the combination of manual therapy and exercise can have positive impacts on both of these plantar facia conditions. The first line of defense when dealing with an uncomfortable plantar fascia condition is rest and paying attention to the pain!
Plantar Fasciitis is caused by excessive stretching and inflammation of the plantar fascia. You can be at a higher risk for this condition if you have flatter feet or high arches. On the other hand, if you live a sedentary life and then suddenly increase your activity, the abrupt change can trigger stress in your plantar fascia.
Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis include hands-on joint mobilization to relieve any stiffness in the ankle and stretching calf muscles can relieve tightness and improve ankle mobility. Additionally, myofascial work of the plantar fascia tissue can prevent scarring from the overstretching. Tape techniques can decrease stress on the tissues as well. Lastly, if your arches are too high or if your feet are on the flatter side, a simple orthotic shoe insert might be necessary to reduce to tension on the ligament.
Plantar Fasciosis is a condition where the plantar fascia ligament is deteriorated due to excessive stress. This condition can worse over time if the ligament in continuously stressed. The main difference between this condition and plantar fasciitis is that plantar fasciitis is the inflammation that occurs first and can develop into the deterioration of the plantar fascia ligament, also known as plantar fasciosis. Those who are constantly on their feet, overweight, have high arches or wear shoes without proper arch support can suffer from plantar fasciosis. Treatments for this condition include but not limited to anti-inflammatory medications, stretching, icing, massage, orthotics and electrical stimulation of the muscles.
There is not enough evidence to show that dry needling is a proven method to reduce plantar heel pain, however, dry needling has shown to treat chronic pain by stimulating myofascial trigger points and relieving spasms and muscle tension in other areas. A study conducted in 2015 explains how a 53 year-old man was suffering from foot pain for over two years and was unlucky in finding long-lasting relief whenever he would stand or walk for long periods of time. After four dry needling treatments, the patient felt a 60-70 percent pain reduction and his pressure pain threshold increased. This study shows that this patient greatly benefitted from dry needling.
If you’re interested in trying dry needling and alleviating your heel pain, call one of our clinics near you! Our friendly team at Results Physiotherapy is eager to help you feel better, faster. Schedule an appointment today to begin working to alleviate your heel pain!
