Options For Plantar Fasciitis Treatment San Francisco Patients Need To Know

By Angela Briggs


There are a number of modalities of plantar fasciitis treatment san Francisco residents may wish to consider if struggling with the condition. The treatment is centred on a number of goals. Perhaps the most significant of them is reduction of pain. This pain, which characteristically is worse in the morning on waking up, improves as one uses the foot during the day. It is not only a major discomfort but it is also quite incapacitating. Therapy also aims at restoring proper function.

The condition is quite common and you do not need to panic. There is a particularly high incidence among athletes who subject their planter fascia to repeated strain and tearing and consequently results in inflammation. The planter fascia is a band of tough tissue that covers the foot and spans from the heel to the toes. Other groups of persons in whom it is also common include the obese, pregnant women and persons that use improper footwear. On average it occurs between ages 40 and 60.

The earlier the intervention, the better is the outcome. Patients are therefore encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as they notice the suggestive symptoms. Some of the initial treatments that can be used include proper feet rest and restriction of daily activities that exacerbate the symptoms. Affected persons should avoid walking or running on hard surfaces that are likely to make the condition worse. Ice packs can be used to provide temporary relief to pain.

Conservative management has been shown to be quite affective and there is rarely a need for surgery. With proper adherence to the prescribed treatment, close to 90% of people recover fully within one year. These options are either used either singly or in combination depending on the severity of symptoms and the individual patient response. A small number of them, about 5%, need to surgical intervention. The general recommendation is that conservative means should be tried first before moving on to the invasive ones.

Pain relief may also be done through the use of NSAIDS, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples of these include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Since relief is often short term for most patients, there is a tendency to take too much of the drugs. The effect of this is an increase in the incidence of side effects such as renal failure and peptic ulcer disease. Commonly used NSAIDS include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.

Persons with plantar fasciitis need to have proper shoe wear. They should choose shoes that will relieve pressure from their heels and soles and also maintain the foot arches in position. Cushioning helps in ensuring that pressure is transmitted evenly. The same effect is obtained with the use of orthotics. The recommendation is that orthotics should be used on both feet.

Physical exercise is a very important part of management. All that is needed is a few simple routines every day starting early in the morning. The exercises are mainly stretches of toes and calves. This serves to increase the flexibility of ligaments and the arches of the feet.

If they are having plantar fasciitis treatment san francisco residents need to know that response to therapy is not uniform. There is significant variability from one person to another. The important thing to do is to ensure that they visit their doctors on a regular basis to check on the progress.




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