CANADIAN PODIATRIST DISCUSSES TREATMENT OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS

PODIATRIST, DR. JOSEPH STERN STATES, "A CLASSIC SIGN OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS IS EXPERIENCING HEEL AND OFTEN ARCH PAIN WHEN WALKING AFTER NON-WIEGHT-BEARING REST.  SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY IT HURTS FOR THE FIRST BUNCH OF STEPS, THEN IT CALMS A BIT AND THEN AS THE DAY PROGRESSES, IT HURTS.  ABOUT 90% OF CASES HAVE BIOMECHANICAL UNDERPINNINGS, IN WHICH THE FOOT DOES NOT HAVE A SOUND FOUNDATION WHEN A PERSON IS STANDING, WALKING, OR RUNNING, POINTING TO SUCH COMMON CAUSES AS WEARING WORN-OUT OR UNSUPPORTIVE SHOES, CARRYING EXCESS POUNDS, OR HAVING TIGHT CALF MUSCLES.

PODIATRIST STERN ALSO STATES, "TREATMENT IS LIKE MAKING A CAKE, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.  SOMETIMES ONE THING WORKS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  INITIAL TREATMENT USUALLY INVOLVES HAVING A PATIENT ROLL THE ARCH OF THEIR SOLE OVER A COLD WATER BOTTLE OR TENNIS BALL SEVERAL TIMES A DAY TO STRETCH OUT THE FASCIA.  STRETCHES ARE GOOD, LIKE PULLING YOUR TOES UP TOWARDS YOUR NOSE, HOLDING IT THEIR FRO 20 TO 40 SECONDS, THEN DO IT AGAIN.  OTHER TREATMENTS INCLUDE TAPING, ORTHOTICS, PHYSIOTHERAPY, ACUPUNCTURE OR A SHOT OF CORTISONE IN THE AFFECTED PART OF THE FOOT TO CALM THE INFLAMMATION.  SOME PRACTITIONERS RECOMMEND A NIGHT SPLINT, A BRACE THAT HOLDS THE FOOT WITH THE TOES POINTING UP TO GENTLY STRTCH THE FASCIA WHILE A PERSON SLEEPS."

AT DR. HARDY'S TORONTO FOOT CLINIC WE SEE A LOT OF PATIENTS WITH PLANTAR FASCIITIS AND WE ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN TREATING THIS PAINFUL CONDITION.  I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT PODIATRIST STERN HAS STATED OTHER THAN WE AVOID CORTISONE AS WE PRACTICE CONSERVATIVE MEDICINE AR MY FOOT CLINIC.

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