The foot is the part of the body critical for maintaining function, balance and coordination while walking.
However, thousands of Americans step out of bed every morning with an excruciating throbbing sensation in the foot and heel, affecting their quality of life. For many, plantar fasciitis has become a “real pain.”
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most frequently seen conditions by foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons. It is an overuse injury affecting a band of tissue (fasciia), which supports the arch and extends from the heel to the toes. Simply, it is a degenerative “wear and tear” of a tissue within the foot.
“This is a very common problem in the adult population,” said Steven Ross, MD, clinical professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, and president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). “This repetitive strain injury affects all walks of life, people both very active and even sedentary, but may most frequently be seen in middle-aged, overweight women.”
The problem with plantar fasciitis is twofold:
- Physicians cannot directly pinpoint what triggers the pain in the first place.
- Nor can they prescribe medication or surgically go in and bring the fasciia “back to life” instantaneously.
“I have seen patients ranging from marathon runners to those who sit behind a desk for 12 hours a day,” Dr. Ross added. “We know the cause of the pain may be attributed to repetitive strain, but the threshold for symptoms is highly variable. This occurs in patients with both high and low arches and is just not a predictable ailment, and there are not many things people can do to prevent it.”
Patients living with plantar fasciitis have several options, including but not limited to: