Re: Planter fascitis and Gait terms: anyone know what this means?

[Guest guest]

An inflammation (irritation and swelling with presence of extra immune cells)

of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot that causes heel pain and

disability.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

The plantar fascia is a very thick band of tissue that covers the bones on

the bottom of the foot. This fascia can become inflamed and painful in some

people, making walking more difficult. Some risk factors for development of this

problem include foot arch problems (both flat foot and high arches), obesity,

sudden weight gain, running and a tight Achilles tendon (the tendon connecting

the calf muscles to the heel). A typical patient is an active male between the

ages of 40 and 70 years old.

This condition is one of the most common orthopedic complaints relating to

the foot.

Plantar fasciitis is commonly thought of as being caused by a heel spur, but

research has found that this is not the case. On X-ray, heel spurs are seen

commonly both in people with and without plantar fasciitis

[Guest guest]

continued

The most common complaint is pain in the bottom of the heel, usually worst in

the morning and improving throughout the day. By the end of the day the pain

may be replaced by a dull aching that improves with rest.

Signs and tests Return to top

Typical physical exam findings include tenderness on the bottom of the heel,

closer to the midline, and mild swelling and redness.

X-rays may be taken to rule out other problems, but the presence or absence

of a heel spur is not significant.

Treatment Return to top

Conservative treatment is almost always successful in this population, given

enough time. Duration of treatment can be anywhere from several months to two

years before symptoms resolve, although about 90% of patients will be better

in 9 months. Initial treatment usually consists of heel stretching exercises,

shoe inserts, night splints, and anti-inflammatory medications. If these fail,

casting the affected foot in a short leg cast (a cast up to but not above the

knee) for 3 to 6 weeks is very often successful in reducing pain and

inflammation.

Some physicians will offer steroid injections, which provide lasting relief

in about 50% of people. However, this injection is very painful and not for

everyone.

In few patients, non-surgical treatment fails and surgery to release the

tight, inflamed fascia becomes necessary.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Nearly all patients will improve within one year of the initiation of

non-operative therapy with no long-term problems. In the few patients requiring

surgery, over 95% have relief of their heel pain.

Complications Return to top

A complication of non-operative therapy is continued pain. In surgical

therapy, there is a risk of nerve injury, infection and failure of the pain to

improve.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of plantar fasciitis.

Prevention Return to top

Maintaining good flexibility around the ankle is probably the best way to

prevent plantar fasciitis.

[Guest guest]

Here is the link:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007021.htm

Debbi