Fasciitis exercises. Plantar fasciitis: causes, symptoms and treatments. Special shoes and insoles

What is plantar (plantar) fasciitis? This is probably the most common cause heel pain. Symptoms come on gradually and get worse in the morning. The plantar fascia is the tissue under the foot that forms the arch. Treatment includes rest, reduction of pain and inflammation, and stretching exercises.Below we cover the condition and how to treat plantar fasciitis, including very effective methodology taping and how to use a night splint.

Plantar fasciitis is still widely used for clinical syndrome pain in the bottom of the heel. However, the use of "itis" means an inflammatory disorder. This is a misnomer as the pathology is not the result of excessive inflammation. Pathological changes are degenerative (but partially reversible) in nature, probably due to repetitive trauma. .

The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band connective tissue. Its origin is the medial plantar tubercle of the calcaneus. It runs along the sole of the foot like a fan, attaches at the other end to the base of each toe. This is a rigid, elastic structure that has a number of important functions while running and walking:

It stabilizes the metatarsal joints during ground impact.
It acts as a shock absorber for the entire leg.
It forms the longitudinal arch of the foot and helps elevate the arch to prepare it for the "take off" phase of the gait cycle.

Treatment usually consists of reducing painful symptoms, stretching the tight fascia and muscles of the lower leg, eliminating the causes and gradually returning to full fitness. Often a combinational approach is best in treating this injury.

Reducing pain and inflammation is a top priority. Application of the basic principles for defense, rest, ice, compression and leg lift. Apply ice or cold pack therapy to help reduce pain and inflammation. Cold therapy may be applied for 10 minutes every hour if the injury is particularly painful in the first 24 to 48 hours. Then can be reduced to 3 times a day as symptoms improve. Ice should not be applied directly to the skin, apply through a damp towel to avoid skin burns. Industrial hot gels and cold packs, as well as wraps, are a more convenient way to apply. .

Foot taping — great way instantly get rid of symptoms and pain under the heel. Exist various ways applying tapes for this injury. Taping works by relieving tension on the plantar fascia, allowing the tissues to heal. It may need to be applied regularly until symptoms disappear, but many people notice an immediate improvement.

Protect your foot by wearing comfortable shoes or sneakers. Hard or flat shoes are more likely to aggravate the symptoms. Changing shoes can provide protection for the painful area, and simple technique The plantar fasciitis fixation is ideal for relieving pressure on the plantar fascia and allowing the foot to rest and aid healing. Stretching the plantar fascia is very important once the pain allows. Night corset - very effective method stretch the plantar fascia under the heel. It is worn at night and helps prevent buckling of the foot.

An occupational therapist can deliver accurate diagnosis and may use electrotherapy such as ultrasound to relieve symptoms as well manual methods such as massage. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen for early stages. For more permanent injuries, a corticosteroid injection may be given, and if symptoms persist, then surgery is an option, but this is rare. A gait analysis may be performed to determine biomechanical problems of the foot and orthotics.

pharmacological therapy.

Simple analgesics such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. In particular, such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can help reduce inflammation and help improve recovery time. .

How to treat plantar fasciitis for more severe pain. Other medicines may sometimes be used to treat symptoms. This may include injections of corticosteroids or botulinum toxin type A directly into the leg to provide localized pain relief.

Corticosteroid injection.

Evidence for steroid injections suggests that they may provide some short-term benefit, but the evidence for its effectiveness is limited. long term lacks.

Exercises.

Exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and calf muscle initially takes precedence over fortification. Calf stretches with the leg forward (targeting the larger calf muscle) and with a bent knee (targeting the lower muscles of the foot) are performed 3 to 5 times a day, holding stretches for up to 30 seconds at a time. Flattening the plantar fascia is done by stretching the toes up on the foot, trying to feel the stretch in the arch of the foot. Rolling your foot on a ball can also help stretch the fascia.Strengthening exercises are not usually needed, but toweling your toes can work the small muscles in your foot.

Surgery.

Surgery is used for about 5% of people whose symptoms do not improve even after continuous treatment. However, the success rate is still estimated at around 70-80%. In most cases, a procedure called fascia debridement is currently performed, which loosens (reduces) 30 to 50% of the fascia fibers. This helps to reduce stress and stress on the bone attachment. Complications can include nerve damage, flat feet, infections, and persistent symptoms. Recovery after surgery, if successful, is about 9-12 weeks before the patient can return to work.

Other methods to treat plantar fasciitis.

Extracorporeal is a new treatment that is less invasive than surgery because it uses sound waves to improve symptoms and promote healing. It is believed to desensitize the nerves that carry the pain signal to the brain and stimulate healing in the area, although all effects are still being researched and evaluated.

General advice.

Let your feet rest as much as possible.
Weight loss in obesity.
Correction of flat feet, if present.
Walk on a softer surface.
Sports shoes with lacing provide good support. Update your shoes regularly.
If you are an athlete, discuss educational plans. The cardiovascular system can be built by changing, even temporarily, to a swimming, bicycle, stepping machine in gym or other exercises low level impact.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ice may be helpful.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis

The symptoms of plantar fasciitis consist of a gradual increase in pain under the heel that may radiate to the front of the foot (arch pain). There may be soreness under the sole of the foot and with inside heels when pressed. Pain can range from slightly uncomfortable to very painful depending on how badly it is damaged.

Causes of plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is excessive damage caused by repeated stretching of the plantar fascia, which is the thick band of tissue (tendon) that runs under the foot, resulting in possible inflammation and thickening of the tendon. As a result of overuse, the fascia can become inflamed and painful at its attachment to the calcaneus or heel. The cause has traditionally been thought to be inflammation, however this is now considered incorrect due to the lack of actual inflammatory cells within the fascia and degeneration is considered the more likely cause.

Plantar fasciitis is more common in sports that involve running, dancing, or jumping. Although overuse is ultimately the cause of the injury, there are a number of factors that can increase the likelihood of injury, including flat feet, high foot arches, stiff calf muscles, poor footwear, overweight and injury.

If plantar fasciitis occurs, home treatment should be started immediately. The sooner you take necessary measures, the more likely it is to quickly get rid of the problem and achieve an improvement in well-being. Therapy of the disease is aimed at relieving pain and reducing inflammatory process, rapid healing of micro-tears and cracks, increased flexibility and strength of the foot.

Priority Actions

When initial signs disease should pay attention to lifestyle and physical activity. If possible, they should be corrected so as to remove unpleasant symptoms and prevent complications in the future.

With plantar fasciitis, it is necessary to ensure sufficient physical activity. If you use shoes with thin soles every day, you should refrain from walking on asphalt or concrete. It is forbidden to run, as this contributes to the activation of the inflammatory process. At the time of exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to stop playing sports or limit the exercise that provokes the occurrence pain.

Ice has a good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It can be applied to the heel area at the end of the working day. This will quickly and effectively alleviate the condition.

Very severe pain will help to remove drugs from the NSAID group. They are characterized by a complex effect and have an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous effect. For this purpose, drugs based on Diclofenac or Ibuprofen can be used.

However, drugs should not be used uncontrollably. They possess large quantity side effects, in particular, have a negative effect on the mucous membrane gastrointestinal tract and can cause ulcers and bleeding.

Choice plays an important role in successful pain relief. the right shoes. It must successfully absorb the impact of walking and support the arch of the foot. For the period of exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to abandon the use of slippers, shoes or high-heeled sandals. A pair with a soft and thick sole should be preferred. Perfect option- sneakers.

Proximal localization of fasciitis requires improved footwear. Special inserts in the heel area or orthopedic insoles. Thus, you can reduce the load on the area of inflammation.

Walking barefoot can aggravate the pain, so you need to put on your shoes as soon as possible after getting out of bed. In the morning, it is advisable to do exercises to stretch the lower leg. It will not take much time, only 3-4 minutes, but it will help to effectively strengthen the ligaments and muscles, which will positively affect the course of the disease.

Excess weight has a negative effect on the human ligamentous apparatus, exposing it to increased loads. Therefore, one of the first recommendations in the treatment of plantar fasciitis is weight loss. It is not necessary to lose half the weight, even a slight decrease in indicators will positively affect the patient's well-being.

Being engaged in the treatment of the disease at home, you should remember about some limitations. For example, about the prohibition of long-term thermal procedures. AT this case reduce pain and relieve inflammation, cold will help more, and fever adversely affect the patient's condition. It is advisable to observe this rule even during water procedures and in without fail complete hygiene measures cold shower.

The use of baths in the treatment of the disease

How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis folk remedies? Alternative medicine involves an integrated approach. Therefore, one of important conditions successful therapy is the use of baths. Thanks to water procedures, the skin of the affected leg will be well steamed and softened. For amplification positive result medicinal components must be added to the liquid.

An additional advantage of this method of treatment is that the subsequent application of a compress will provide a more pronounced therapeutic effect.

The easiest recipe for making a bath is to add soda and salt. For 1 liter of hot water you will need 1 tbsp. l. each means. If desired, you can add a few drops of iodine, which has an antiseptic effect. The duration of water procedures is about 15-20 minutes. It is not recommended to use too hot liquid, since it can not only provoke a burn, but also worsen the patient's well-being.

Has a good effect healing composition, which includes turpentine, vinegar and vodka. All components must be mixed in equal proportions and slightly heated in a water bath. With the help of the procedure, an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and relaxing effect is achieved.

Treatment with folk remedies includes the use of an "ice bath". Very suitable for this cold water. Further lowering the temperature of the liquid will allow the addition of crushed ice. The procedure must be done carefully, only the heel should be lowered into the water, and total duration should not exceed 5-10 minutes. Otherwise, there is high risk frostbite of the feet.

The use of compresses in the treatment of plantar fasciitis

Folk remedies in the treatment of the disease necessarily include drugs for local application. good therapeutic effect has the use of compresses. Thanks to the correct overlay, applications are created optimal conditions for deep penetration of the drug deep into the epidermis. For compresses, you can use the following recipes:

Horseradish and laundry soap. Grind both components in equal proportions, mix well and put on the area of inflammation. Attach to leg, cover with plastic bag or wax paper and wrap. This procedure it is advisable to do it at night so that the medicine acts on the pathological focus as long as possible. The tool has an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Apply the application daily at bedtime until you feel better.
Sunflower tincture. Cut off the head of a flowering plant and take out the white porous pulp. Grind the mass, put in a glass container and pour vodka. The liquid should cover the sunflower by 0.5–1 cm. Leave the product in a dark place for 10-14 days. Before use, strain the tincture and add sunflower, olive, linseed or any other vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:1. The tool is used for rubbing and applying compresses.
Infusion of cinquefoil. For its preparation, it is necessary to grind the root of the plant. 2 tbsp. l. pour 50 ml of water and insist for 2 hours. After this time, strain the remedy, and mash the remaining pulp to a puree-like consistency. Put the mass on the heel and apply a compress. The duration of the drug is at least 10-12 hours. Therefore, the procedure should be done at bedtime so that the patient does not have to walk with the application.
Beets and apple cider vinegar. To apply a compress, you need to grate the vegetable and mix with apple cider vinegar in equal proportions. The tool has a pronounced emollient, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Its only drawback is that it is able to paint the sole in red, which is relevant only in the hot season.
Elderberry tincture. It has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. To prepare it, it is necessary to pour the berries with medical alcohol and insist for 5-7 days. It is advisable to do this in a glass container. Use the finished product for rubbing and applying compresses - moisten a piece of cotton fabric or gauze in a liquid, apply to a sore spot and wrap it on top.

Use of ointments and rubs

Therapy of plantar fasciitis with folk remedies involves the use of drugs for rubbing into the inflamed area several times a day.

The easiest way to prepare an ointment is to twist fresh unsalted lard in a meat grinder and use it as a rub. To enhance the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of fat, it must be fixed on the heel area and left overnight. To avoid unnecessary worries, fat can not be twisted and put on a whole slice. It will also have a positive effect.

When treating fasciitis with folk remedies, you should definitely use effective recipe based on propolis. To prepare the ointment, mix 25 g of grass and 200 g butter, melt the mixture in a water bath and rub the inflamed heel. The product can be left overnight, and to avoid contamination bed linen, put on a sock on top.

Has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Ointments, infusions, rubbing and other forms based on it are used in the treatment of many diseases. For medicine use the stem and leaves of the plant. To strengthen healing action cut parts should be put in the freezer for several hours. After that, pass through a meat grinder and add animal fat (pork, badger). For 1 part of the golden mustache you will need 2 parts of lard. The tool is used as an ointment, but not used for applying compresses. The medicine should be kept in the refrigerator so that it retains its consistency.

Therapy of fasciitis with folk remedies will help to cope with the inflammatory process without the use of pharmacological drugs. However, you should be patient, because this treatment, although it is absolutely safe, does not act as quickly as medicines.

Plantar fasciitis is a slowly developing disease and initial stages they usually don't pay attention to it. If there are discomfort, then it seems that the legs are just tired, and everything will pass as soon as they rest. However, over time, the pain only gets worse, especially after rest.

Heel fasciitis is more common in women, the elderly, and athletes. According to international classification diseases, the disease was given the name plantar fascial fibromatosis. In the people, fasciitis of the sole is called "heel spur", the scientific name is plantar fasciitis. At its core, this is an inflammatory process in the heel bone. With the progression of the disease, tissue thickening occurs, and a bone protrusion occurs at the site of salt deposition.

Fasciitis of the foot leads to the fact that a person's gait changes, and constant lameness may develop, moreover, it is very unpleasant, at first the pain is present only when walking, and then at rest too.

Causes of the disease

Older people often face such an ailment as plantar fasciitis, its causes lie in a strong and regular overload ligamentous apparatus. That is why professional ballerinas and athletes often suffer from this pathology.

The disease has an inflammatory onset, but after some time the disease progresses, and as a result, degenerative processes begin to develop. This can be provoked by:

excess weight, as obese people have an increased load on their feet;
availability in lumbar spine osteochondrosis;
wearing tight shoes and shoes with high heels;
inflammatory processes in the joints;
flat feet;
poor blood supply to the lower extremities.

In order to cure this disease, it is necessary to find out why it developed, since fasciitis is only a consequence, if you try to treat it, then the result may not be achieved.

It is necessary to eliminate the root cause of the pathology, and after that you can start treating heel fasciitis, moreover, in conservative ways.

Clinical picture

It is impossible not to notice or confuse the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. The clinic is quite bright:

pain in the heels or feet as a whole;
burning sensation when resting on the heel;
swelling of the ankle and ankle joint;
pain in the Achilles tendon.

To confirm the diagnosis, you need to do an ultrasound (the photo shows how it looks), but you can start suspecting plantar fasciitis yourself. Severe acute pain in the morning is the main symptom of the disease.

During the day, the pain becomes less intense, but increases closer to the night. It can be aggravated after prolonged sitting and a sharp rise. Also a clear symptom is the flabbiness of the arch of the foot. Since the symptoms of plantar fasciitis are more than characteristic, there are usually no difficulties with diagnosis.

Therapy for fasciitis

When the cause of the disease is identified and, if possible, eliminated, then treatment can begin. It is primarily aimed at reducing pain.

With plantar fasciitis, treatment is prescribed by an orthopedic traumatologist or surgeon. To relieve the inflammatory process, homeopathic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Provided that the ligamentous apparatus has not lost its elasticity, even the resulting bone outgrowth will not cause pain. But in the presence of severe pain, anti-inflammatory drugs must be taken long time. Concerning local treatment, then compresses and are assigned.

The use of physiotherapy gives a positive result:

If conservative treatment of plantar fasciitis is ineffective, then the question arises of surgical intervention, however, according to statistics, only 70% of operations can be considered successful.

The operation is carried out under local anesthesia- it is injected into the spine, thereby blocking sensitivity. The operation can be traditional (open) and endoscopic (minimally invasive). The latter, of course, is less traumatic, and the recovery process is easier and faster.

After the operation, the following complications are possible:

during the operation, a nerve may be injured;
the postoperative wound heals for a long time and its suppuration is possible;
pain may intensify;
nerve cells can form a benign tumor.

Treatment with folk methods

How to treat plantar fasciitis at home? Beneficial features ginger well relieve inflammation and relieve pain. Grate the ginger root, take 1 tbsp. l. the resulting mass and fill with water (glass). Boil the product for 2-3 minutes, remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes, then drink throughout the day.

Turmeric is also a pretty strong pain reliever. A glass of warm milk will need 1 tsp. turmeric, mix it well in milk and drink. If you don't like the taste, you can add honey.
Muscle stiffness and inflammation will help eliminate fish fat in addition, it contains beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce pain. It is very useful for plantar fasciitis to eat fish or drink fish oil.
Cayenne pepper is also a good pain reliever, you can do foot baths with it. Just add a pinch of pepper to a bowl of water. Make sure that the water is not hot, otherwise you can cause skin irritation. The bath should be taken for 10 minutes, then be sure to rinse your feet warm water. If there are cuts or inflammation on the legs, do not use pepper. If the bath causes discomfort and causes severe burning, you must immediately stop the procedure and rinse your feet with clean water.
The "king" of all home remedies is apple cider vinegar, it perfectly relieves pain and treats inflammation. Take a glass of warm water, add 1 tsp to it. honey and 1 tbsp. l. apple cider vinegar, stir and drink. Important: do not drink apple cider vinegar without diluting it with water - this can cause various diseases GIT. Apple vinegar can also be used for baths: add 2 tbsp to a basin of water. l. and soak your feet for 5-10 minutes.

Folk remedies, too (as well as medications) are aimed at relieving pain. The key to treating plantar fasciitis, however, is to address its cause.

Disease prevention

To prevent fasciitis, follow these guidelines:

watch your weight;
before training, stretch, stretch the calf muscles and feet, especially for runners;
increase the mileage for the race once a week and no more than 10%;
if you run on asphalt, choose good running shoes with a springy sole;
do not wear too narrow or loose shoes, they should support the feet well;
regularly make yourself a stop in the evenings;
once a week, relax your feet in a bath with ginger or any medicinal herbs which have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Remember that a progressive and protracted disease is more difficult to treat. Therefore, at the first unpleasant symptoms see a doctor for diagnosis.

Plantar fasciitis, or plantar fasciitis, is an inflammatory process in the elastic tissues of the foot. This causes pain in the lower part of the heel, often accompanied by swelling. In most cases pain syndrome due to inflammatory and degenerative changes in the plantar (plantar) fascia. Hence the name of this disease - plantar fasciitis. It is also called simply fasciitis, calcaneal fasciitis, foot fasciitis.

In the people, the disease is called “heel spur”. But this is not entirely true, because the heel spur (bone growth) is a consequence of plantar fasciitis.

Briefly about the structure of the foot

The foot consists of 26 bones, muscles, blood vessels, tendons and various fatty layers. The largest bone is the calcaneus. On the calcaneal tubercle, the tendons and muscles interlock. The fascia is also located here, that is, a special ligamentous tissue that stretches like an onion string and does not allow the leg to be overloaded. Essentially, the fasciae act as shock absorbers, supporting the arch of the foot and helping the person walk. Particular tension is always noted at the point where the plantar fascia is attached to the calcaneal tuberosity.

Considering the importance of this department and the overstrain that it experiences, we can conclude that this is where the greatest number of problems arise. The fascia can be injured or stretched. Some wounds heal on their own, while others require treatment. If the problem is ignored, this can lead to the development of an inflammatory process.

Causes of the disease

Excessive loads to which the legs are subjected can result in mass various problems. The feet and heel area are most commonly affected. Nature has foreseen everything in such a way that the human foot must freely withstand the stress that is created during straight walking. However, many people themselves create such conditions under which the load becomes too high.

Foot fasciitis is one of the most common orthopedic diseases. AT Everyday life ligaments are subject to the greatest wear. Too much great pressure on the legs can damage or tear them. As a result, the ligaments become inflamed, cause pain in the heel, and swelling appears.

At-risk groups

At risk are people who are overweight, have flat feet, wear uncomfortable shoes suffering from diseases of the vessels of the lower extremities, as well as aged people and those who expose their limbs heavy loads, for example, athletes (weightlifters, long-distance runners). The exception is not made by people whose labor activity associated with prolonged standing.

Almost everyone is affected active men and women between the ages of 40 and 70. But plantar fasciitis is more common in women than men. The thing is that women strain their limbs much more often. For example, heel fasciitis can be caused by wearing shoes with high heels and tight shoes. All this leads to an increase in the load on the foot. Pregnant women often experience bouts of fasciitis of the feet, especially on later dates pregnancy.

Separately, it is worth highlighting those who suffer from excess weight. People with overweight bodies often suffer from problems such as fasciitis, flat feet and other foot problems.

With age, the risk of developing heel fasciitis increases several times. Age degenerative changes can contribute to the deterioration of blood circulation in the lower extremities, and this becomes the cause of many troubles.

Diseases associated with fasciitis

Often fasciitis is experienced by people suffering from diabetes, atherosclerosis and gout. Sometimes a serious infectious disease, for example, chlamydia and gonorrhea, can also contribute to the development of such a pathology.

If the foot has wrong position, the heel will experience an increased load, that is, in such a situation, fasciitis cannot be avoided. Thus, flat feet and arthritis, in which the bone goes inside the foot and the toes protrude outward, may be harbingers that some stage of fasciitis is already present.

Any injuries and sprains of the limbs can be the factor that will affect the development of calcaneal fasciitis. In this case, most often this disease affects the leg, which was not damaged. It is on it that the entire weight of the human body begins to be transferred, which leads to the formation excessive load and heel fasciitis.

Symptoms of manifestation

The main complaint of patients with plantar fasciitis of the foot is pain and stiffness in the lower part of the heel. The pain may be aching or sharp. Some patients also experience pain in the midfoot area.
Burning sensation when putting weight on the heel.
Pain in the morning after sleep, when a person gets out of bed and takes the first steps.
Climbing stairs can be very difficult due to heel stiffness.
After prolonged activity, pain may increase in the ankles and the Achilles tendon area. Usually not felt during activity, but only after rest.

These symptoms develop gradually over time.

The disease usually affects only one leg, but it can affect both limbs.

Clinical picture

Such a pathology may not manifest itself for a long time, but one day the signal will definitely appear, and it can be sudden and strong. The main symptom of heel fasciitis is pain that occurs in the foot. At first it is tolerable and passes when the limbs have a little rest. If a person does the right thing and does not overstrain his legs for a while, microtraumas of the fascia can go away by themselves. But most often similar symptoms are simply ignored. This is what causes complications.

Small injuries to the fascia can cause inflammation to begin. It can lead to the formation of bone growth in the future. This is very unpleasant phenomenon which requires serious and long-term treatment.

By itself, the bone growth causes very severe pain, which increases during walking. In the people, such a phenomenon is called a spike or spur in the heel.

Most often, the symptoms of fasciitis improve in daytime and become pronounced in the evening. By the end of the day, leg fatigue will be very strong, which will lead to discomfort.

More about heel spurs

People in whom the disease reaches a serious stage of development may begin to walk incorrectly. The heel spur does not make it possible to fully step on the foot, so the main weight is transferred to the socks. This leads to the fact that the legs are very tired and in addition there are problems with the spine.

In the most serious cases when the fasciae are damaged on both legs and tissue ossification has already occurred, a cane or crutches may be needed.

It is very important to pay attention to the main symptoms of fasciitis in a timely manner. If the disease is diagnosed in a timely manner, this will make it possible to solve the problem quickly and without serious consequences.

You should not self-medicate, although there are many good ones against fasciitis. folk methods. If you have pain in your leg, you need to see a doctor and do X-ray. This will allow you to see a picture of what is happening in the foot area. Based on the data obtained, the doctor should prescribe suitable treatment fasciitis. If it has not yet passed into a serious stage, you can limit yourself to funds from traditional medicine, but most often they are used as adjunctive therapy.

How the disease is diagnosed

Diagnosis of plantar fasciitis begins with a visual examination and examination of the site of pain in the foot. The doctor may ask you to bend your leg, stand, walk, ask about ailments and injuries, if any.
Before treating heel fasciitis, muscle strength and nerve health are additionally assessed by checking:

reflexes
muscle tone
Touch, vision
Movement coordination
balance

X-rays or MRIs are required to make sure your pain was not caused by another problem, such as a stress fracture or a pinched nerve. Sometimes the x-ray shows a spur protruding anteriorly from the calcaneus. According to statistics, 40% of people with a heel spur do not experience pain, and therefore do not suspect its existence until a certain point.

Treatment Methods

Reducing inflammation in the plantar fascia ligament is important part therapy, but this does not solve the underlying problem. Conservative treatment foot fasciitis lasts for several months. Drugs are prescribed to relieve the inflammatory process and relieve pain (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac).

If a self-treatment has not brought the expected results, and anti-inflammatory drugs do not relieve pain, injections of corticosteroids are injected directly into the damaged area of the ligament. For the best passage steroid into the muscle, the doctor applies a painless electric current.

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy is an important part of the treatment for foot fasciitis. The purpose of the procedure is to strengthen the Achilles tendon and relax the fascia.
A physical therapist can also show you exercises to tone your lower leg muscles. Mud therapy, warm baths with sea salt can be used.

If the pain continues and other methods don't work, your doctor may recommend an extracorporeal shock wave therapy. In this therapy, sound waves bombard the heels to stimulate healing in the ligaments.

Supportive orthoses

Orthopedic shoes and devices are another method of conservative therapy. Night orthosis used in treatment heel spur, is a boot that allows you to keep your foot in a bent position and helps stretch the Achilles tendon. This treatment tactic can prevent pain and stiffness in the heel in the morning.

Surgical intervention

Doctors prescribe this procedure only in extreme cases. Only in the situation where conservative methods will not give the desired result, and the patient's condition will worsen, an operation can be performed. According to statistics, more than 70% of patients recover completely after surgery. However, relapses are extremely rare.

Surgery is indicated only in cases where the pain is very severe. The surgeon partially separates the fascia from the calcaneus, but this weakens the arch of the foot and full function may be lost. Another operation involves lengthening the calf muscle. This process is called calf slump.

The most commonly used tissue dissection with minimal invasion. Endoscopic operations tolerated by patients much easier, and recovery after them is faster. The procedure is carried out using miniature instruments and a special camera, which allows the doctor to control the process occurring at the site of the operation.

And yet the operation is considered an extreme method. The point is that complications are not excluded.

Possible Complications

A certain percentage of patients complain that it became more painful for them to walk after the operation. In addition, during such a complex process, nerves can be injured. From dried out nerve cells neuroma may appear benign education but very annoying.

Steroid injections and some other treatments can weaken the plantar fascia and cause a potential ligament tear.
Surgery carries the risk of bleeding, infection, and reaction to anesthesia.

Prognosis for patients

Most people do not need surgery to relieve the pain of foot fasciitis. Their condition improves with physical therapy, home treatment and medical procedures. However, treatment can take anywhere from a few months to two years.

ethnoscience

In the earliest stages of the development of fasciitis, you can resort to traditional medicine. But you need to consider that it is desirable to use them in combination with traditional medications. In this case, you can achieve good results.

Since ancient times, it has been believed that the best remedy against heel spurs is sea salt. It is used as baths. Essential oil can be used in addition to salt.

Salt expands the pores and helps to increase the elasticity of the ligaments.

You can steam your legs in warm water with lilac flowers. If desired, you can use a tincture of them. It is believed that to help in the fight against heel spurs can cabbage leaf, gruel from raw potatoes, burdock leaf and horseradish.

How to relieve pain when overweight

It is typical when a person with this disease experiences pain in one leg. But, there are some procedures that are applied to both limbs - massage to stretch the ligaments. Do it first in the morning, then three more times during the day.

Exercises you can do on your own

For Achilles tendon

Place the injured leg behind the good one. Point the toe of your back foot towards the heel of your front foot and lean towards the wall. Bend your front knee, keep your back straight, and plant your heel firmly on the floor. Hold on to a count of 10.

For plantar fascia

Sit on a chair, put the injured leg on the healthy knee. Using the hand on the affected side, pull your toes back toward your shin until you feel a stretch in the muscle. You should feel tension. Hold on to a count of 10.

Prevention of heel fasciitis

Daily exercise or special physical exercises to strengthen muscles and ligaments.
Shoes must be loose on the foot, good quality, with cushioning and arch support insoles to support the arch of the foot.
Do not bring the body to obesity. If overweight is already available, make every effort to lose weight.
Before training, be sure to do massage movements, exercises to stretch the ligaments of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis refers to unpleasant diseases. Pathological processes that occur in the lower limb can cause a lot of inconvenience to a person, up to restriction of movement. But the disease can really be cured, if you do not ignore the first symptoms and seek the advice of a specialist in time.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia. This formation is a dense tissue bundle that provides smooth cushioning of the foot when walking. Plantar fasciitis of the feet gives a person a lot of problems and discomfort, accompanied by pain and impaired gait.

The human foot experiences a constant dynamic and static load. That is why it is so important to diagnose and treat this disease in a timely manner.

In most cases, the cause of this pathology is trauma to the plantar fascia. Other causes of the disease include:

Prolonged stay in the same position. The risk group includes people whose work activity is associated with prolonged sitting or staying on their feet. Also, professional athletes (weightlifters, athletes, bodybuilders) are susceptible to plantar fasciitis.
The presence of flat feet. The flat arch of the foot receives an uneven load, as a result of which the fascia of the foot suffers.
Wearing shoes without arch support. This type of footwear includes sports sneakers, flip flops and slates.
Overweight. If a person has excessive body weight, the load on his feet increases several times.
Presence of sports activities. Intensive training has a damaging effect on the apparatus of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is a common pathology among people who are professionally involved in sports.
Congenital weakness of the ligamentous apparatus of the foot.
Age-related degenerative-dystrophic changes in the soft tissues of the foot.
Violation metabolic processes and circulation in the sole area. People suffering from diabetes mellitus, gout, and atherosclerosis are susceptible to this condition.

About how the fasciitis of the foot area proceeds, the symptoms and its treatment will be discussed in detail below.

Symptoms

characteristic symptom this disease is pain that tends to increase with weight bearing. Pain is most often localized on the plantar side of the heel, as well as on the back surface of the calcaneus.

Pain syndrome with fasciitis makes itself felt in morning time days. The intensity of the pain often causes a person to stop moving and put their feet on a hill. The inflammatory process in fasciitis affects both feet, but can also be unilateral.

The main symptoms of this disease include:

discomfort and pain in the heel area;
limited movement;
burning sensation in the heel area;
deformity of the foot due to thickening of the plantar fascia;
forced flexion of the toes (characteristic sign);
the formation of a focus of compaction on the plantar side of the heel.

A potential complication of fasciitis is a heel spur, which develops as a result of high blood pressure on the foot. If a person has found signs of a heel spur, then in 85% of cases we are talking about the formation of an inflammatory process in the plantar fascia.

Diagnostics

The primary link in the diagnosis of this disease is the collection and analysis of complaints that a person makes. In this case, the doctor takes into account the nature of the pain, its duration, localization, and the presence of other symptoms of the disease. Also, it is important for a medical specialist to obtain information regarding the patient's lifestyle and work activities.

After that, the doctor conducts a visual examination and palpation of the feet. An important point is the presence of flat feet or other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The following studies are used as additional diagnostic methods:

x-ray examination;
ultrasound diagnostics;
magnetic resonance or computed tomography.

On x-ray, a bony outgrowth in the heel (spur) can be observed, as well as foci of calcium deposits.

Treatment

Therapy for this disease includes medication, physiotherapy and surgery. Wherein last method is last resort, and is used when conservative therapy is ineffective.

Medical therapy

Drug therapy for plantar fasciitis includes the following groups of medicines:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These funds are mandatory for admission, since the basis pathological process with this disease lies the inflammatory process.
Painkillers (analgesic) drugs. If a person is concerned strong pain at physical activity or at rest, then he is prescribed painkillers.
Ointments and creams for topical use containing an anti-inflammatory component.

Physiotherapy treatment

Methods of hardware physiotherapy are widely used as part of complex treatment of this disease. high efficiency have the following methods:

Shock wave technique. This type of hardware physiotherapy consists in the impact of high-frequency acoustic waves on soft tissues foot areas. As a result of this effect, local blood circulation improves, the intensity of the inflammatory process decreases, pain and discomfort are eliminated.
Magnetotherapy. Impact magnetic field has anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory and tonic effect.
Phonophoresis. This technique is complex, and consists in the simultaneous action of physical and chemical factors. During phonophoresis, hydrocortisone ointment is administered by means of ultrasonic waves. This combination ensures deep penetration of the ointment components into the soft tissues of the heel region. Hydrocortisone ointment has an anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and analgesic effect.

Recommendations for each technique are given to each person individually. A pronounced therapeutic effect is achieved only under the condition of simultaneous use medicines and physiotherapy procedures.

Surgery

If a conservative therapy does not bring the expected result, a person is recommended to conduct surgical intervention. Surgical intervention with fasciitis is carried out under local anesthesia. For this purpose, spinal anesthesia is used, causing a temporary loss of sensation in the lower extremities.

Modern technologies and latest equipment allow medical professionals perform short-term and high-precision operations. For surgical treatment of this disease, endoscopy techniques are used. During the operation, the doctor carefully crosses the plantar fascia, and with the help of a special tool removes the bone outgrowth in the calcaneus (spur).

Duration rehabilitation period after this intervention varies depending on the neglect of the pathological process. Some people who have undergone surgical treatment fasciitis, may face such complications:

traumatic injury to the nerve trunks during surgery;
increased pain syndrome;
the formation of a benign nerve tumor (neuroma);
prolonged healing of the surgical wound or its suppuration.

With the development of one of the complications, a person will need additional drug therapy and additional rehabilitation.

Prevention

Any disease is much easier to prevent than to deal with its consequences and complications. In order to prevent the appearance of fasciitis, it is recommended to follow these tips:

use a convenient orthopedic shoes which has arch support or good cushioning or insoles.
at least 1 time in 2 seasons it is recommended to change sports shoes;
deal with excessive body weight;
do not carry out sports jogging on an asphalt surface;
to train the flexibility of the ligaments of the ankle joint.

Treatment of fasciitis, especially if it has progressed to chronic form becomes more and more difficult with each passing year. Requires massive drug therapy in combination with physiotherapy procedures. If a person’s leg begins to hurt and discomfort in the foot area begins to bother him, he is recommended to immediately seek medical help and undergo a comprehensive examination.