Plantar Fasciitis
What is the Plantar Fascia?
The Plantar Fascia is a thick band of fibrous connective tissue located on the bottom of the foot. This band of connective tissue runs between the calcaneus (heel bone) and the distal metatarsals (toes). The Plantar Fascia helps to support the medial longitudinal arch of the foot in weight bearing and during propulsion while walking or running. In running, the plantar fascia works with the Achilles tendon to store and return energy throughout the gait cycle.
What is Plantar Fasciitis/Fasciopathy?
Plantar Fasciopathy is more commonly known as “Plantar Fasciitis”. It was given this name due to the original hypothesized mechanism of the condition, inflammation of the plantar fascia and its origin on the calcaneus. We now know that inflammation plays only a small role in the development of Plantar Fasciopathy. The condition is often degenerative in nature and develops over an extended period.
What causes Plantar Fasciopathy?
Numerous biomechanical factors have been implicated in the process of developing Plantar Fasciopathy. It was previously believed that the symptoms of Plantar Fasciopathy were strongly correlated with medial longitudinal arch height, specifically low arches, but this has been disproven. In fact, arch height has no correlation in the development of Plantar Fasciopathy.
· Some factors that have been shown to be possible contributions in the onset of Plantar Fasciopathy include:
o Tightness in the posterior calf
o Weakness in the short toe flexor musculature
o Weakness in the lateral calf musculature (peroneals).
What else can cause heel pain?
Plantar Fasciopathy is by far the most common cause of heel pain, affecting nearly one in ten people throughout their lifetime. However, several other musculoskeletal conditions can present with similar symptoms.
Some of these conditions include:
o Lumbar Disc Pathology
o Neural Tension Disorders
o Insertional Achilles Tendinopathies
o Heel Spurs
o Calcaneal Stress Fractures
How is Plantar Fasciopathy diagnosed?
Plantar Fasciopathy is diagnosed through a combination of a detailed patient history, basic gait analysis, and musculoskeletal examination. Due to the multiple causes of heel pain listed above, much of the examination is used to rule out other sources of symptoms. Imaging studies, such as X-rays or MRIs, are typically not necessary to render a diagnosis of Plantar Fasciopathy.
How is Plantar Fasciopathy treated?
Treatment for Plantar Fasciopathy is usually a combination of several therapies. Often, soft tissue techniques, dry needling, and therapeutic laser can be a great way to help ease symptoms and begin the recovery process. This is then followed by specific rehabilitative exercise designed to correct any mechanical factors determined on exam and provide a method for symptom relief at home.
Some of our treatment plans may include the following:
Active Release Technique (ART)
This technique uses applied active pressure to the back, targeting the back as a whole rather than each isolated joint separately, the motion removes the adhesions found in the back that are causing the patient’s pain.
Motion Palpation Technique
While the patient is moving their affected joints, we will apply subtle pressure to each joint using our fingers and hands in order to feel how they are functioning.
Functional Rehabilitation
Combining treatments with rehabilitation is a big win for our patients. We focus on corrective exercises that teach the body to work as it’s meant to.
Class IV Laser Therapy
Laser therapy allows deep tissue penetration that alleviates pain and inflammation. This treatment is entirely safe and effective, lasting from a few to 10 minutes.
Movement Screen / Biomechanical Analysis
Movement screening allows us to view how the body is moving and how motion is affecting the patient’s movement. This can explain why some injuries occur, helping us fix the cause instead of only focusing on the symptoms of an injury.
Exercise Recovery
Our Greenville team offers exercise recovery tools that speed up recovery time between workouts, improve performance, and contribute to pain reduction. Dr. Nelson uses a Marc Pro device which provides muscle stimulation, and in turn enhancing active recovery. Additionally, we offer Normatec recovery boots which passively flush out waste and soreness.
Take-Home Rehabilitation
We want our patients to head home fully armed to take a healthy and proactive approach in their recovery. Offering education on how to properly exercise and stretch gives the patient a core element of their health plan and helps them achieve overall balance, strength, and wellness.
Our staff will ensure that each patient feels safe, secure, and comfortable with their wellness treatment plan and goals.
Whether your plan implements stretching, therapy, laser treatments, or adjusting, chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to quickly find what’s causing your pain and remedy it through natural means. Having a well-balanced body doesn’t need to require surgery, seeing Dr. Nelson or Dr. Yates is a smart, noninvasive, risk-free way to gain and maintain a healthy body, mind, and soul.
“I would strongly recommend this practice to those recovering from injury, training for an athletic event, or simply seeking to improve overall health and wellness. Dr. Nelson played an instrumental role in my recovery from a lower back disc-related injury and continues to provide excellent care and advice. With the severity of my lower back pain I was unsure if I would ever be able to return to some of the sports and activities that I love, including golf, volleyball, weightlifting, but now can confidently say that I perform all at a higher level than I did prior to injury largely due to the care I received at Carolina Active Health. They take a holistic approach in the sense that they consider all factors that may be contributing to pain and they perform full body screens which are beneficial to identifying potential restrictions in mobility. What meant the most to me, however, was that they all seemed to truly care and were enthusiastic about my progress. Highly recommend”
“Dr. Kyle helped me achieve a significant level of improvement that I did not think was possible. He listened to my concerns and worked with me to figure out the best course of treatment. And it worked! I am so grateful for his expertise and care. I urge everyone who is struggling with back pain and nerve involvement to contact Carolina Active Health.”
“As a triathlete, it’s great working with Carolina Active Health to maintain my health or get me back on track when I’m injured. The staff are personable and knowledgeable. Dr. Nelson and Dr. Yates listen to my concerns and involve me in the treatment plan. All the staff are always open to answer questions I have.”