A Treatment Approach To Heel Pain

 A Treatment Approach To Heel Pain

 

Heel Pain Charters Towers, commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis or heel spur, is among the most frequently reported complaints to a podiatry clinic. It is often a more complicated issue than most people think. Plantar fasciitis is a repetitive injury that affects the plantar surface or sole on the heels. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is a sign of persistent degeneration of the fibrous, challenging piece of muscle (fascia) that connects your heel bone with the base of your feet. Many patients are told they suffer from a heel spur. A heel spurs an indication of tension in the connection of an underlying fascia and the bone of the heel. There is no connection between a heel spur and the appearance of pain. The level at which the fascia has degraded triggers the discomfort. The problem begins slowly with minor pain below the heel, commonly referred to as an injury from a stone. It is more likely that you will be able to feel it following (not during) exercises. The pain typically occurs after the first steps in the morning and then after a rest period. Suppose you do not treat plantar fasciitis properly. In that case, it can be a long-term condition that results in the development of additional symptoms related to hip, knee, foot and back pain because your walking style changes due to discomfort.

 

The traditional treatment for heel pain has been the use of orthotics, ice massages, calf stretch exercises, and Cortisone injections. Although these therapies may be effective in treating heel pain, but not the use of ice massage, a different treatment method has been developed that can deliver faster, longer-lasting relief of symptoms. Recent treatments are targeted towards improving the functioning of the muscles that support the foot so that the ligament can be better secured and has a greater chance of healing in Towers Podiatry Charters Towers. This is vital because even though the plantar fascia plays a role as one of the primary structures that support keeping an upright posture for the foot, at a minimum, two other muscles within the foot play a similar role. So if the plantar facia is injured, other structures are required to work harder and compensate, which results in muscles that are over-sensitive and become fatigued early and then developing knots (known as trigger points) and further straining the plantar fascia that is injured. If the injury is not treated, the cycle will continue.

 

A relatively recent treatment addressing the issue of muscle weakness involves Dry Needling (Not traditional Eastern Acupuncture) using a thin acupuncture needle placed into the muscle and skin directly at the trigger point. The intention is to modify the muscle, unwind knots, and increase the function. This is often done with other therapies, such as heat massage, joint mobilization/manipulation and orthotics, to address the underlying cause of plantar fascia injury and subsequent trigger points.

 

Another option for treatment is Prolotherapy. This involves injecting small amounts of local solution of anaesthetic/glucose using tiny needles to stimulate the release and production of growth factors, which can help repair the plantar fascia.

Most of the above treatment options are employed together rather than in isolation, as all factors that impact the fascia plantar's healing abilities must be addressed. This includes joint and muscle dysfunction, foot posture, and the level of activity and type of footwear.

 

What Do Podiatrists Do?

 

Podiatry is one of the branches of allied medicine that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and medical treatment of ailments of the low laserRichmond Hill, foot, lower extremity, ankle and. Podiatrists are trained to detect and treat biomechanical concerns that can cause an injury or reduced performance.

 

Podiatrists are specialists in foot-related issues, including injuries to the muscles, tendon joints and ligaments, nail and skin problems like a callus, ingrown nails, fungal infections, and blisters. They also treat prevalent diseases that manifest on the feet, for example, neurologic and diabetes.

 

Muscle or Joint Injuries in the Foot

 

When someone suffers from a lower or foot injury, they must see a podiatrist as quickly as possible to receive the best advice and treatment. The podiatrist should be aware of the reason for the injury, previous injuries, and the degree of activities performed prior to the injury. An extensive examination of the area of injury is then conducted, including muscles/joint tests, range of motion studies, Ultrasound/X-ray/MRI referral, and strength tests to establish the diagnosis.

 

An extensive biomechanical evaluation of the patient's running or walking will then be performed to determine any problems with foot/knee or hip alignment contributing to the problem. The use of video gait analysis to determine any biomechanical problems that could be used to clarify and concisely describe these to the patient and any other health professionals involved.

Depending on the diagnosis, soft tissue therapy, orthotics, shoe modifications, dry needling, stretching/strengthening programs and gait retraining may be prescribed.

 

Nail and Skin Problems in the Foot

 

Podiatrists can treat any nail or skin issue that affects the feet. Calluses and corns can be caused due to foot deformities (bunions or high arches, hammer toes) or shoes that are not fitting correctly or high-impact activities that are too strenuous. A podiatrist can gently use sterilized instruments to eliminate the hard skin and offer advice on prevention and treatment strategies. Ingrown toenails, fungal, and nail thickening can be easily treated using methods of medical grade to offer rapid and painless remedies to solve the issue.

 

Treatment Techniques

 

Soft Tissue Therapies include massage, mobilization stretching and manipulation to relieve swelling and pain and increase flexibility and movement to the ankle, foot and leg. Dry Needling: Much like acupuncture, dry needles are employed to treat injured muscles and tendons by inserting needles of sterile fineness in the skin. The needle is inserted into trigger points or in tender areas to trigger a response in the muscle fibres, which causes constriction release, allowing for normal muscle function.

 

Orthotics If a biomechanical problem is identified following an analysis of gait videos, the orthotics can be utilized to provide support for corrective purposes to align lower limb structures to enhance postural stability and decrease the stress on certain joints and muscles, as well as improve lower and foot performance. Gait retraining/Shoe fitting - podiatrists can help patients improve their running technique, evaluate and recommend the right running shoes, and talk about the best training plans to avoid overtraining and increase the strength and flexibility of the lower limbs to reduce the chance of injury related to running.