Plantar Fasciitis
What is plantar fasciitis?
The fascia within the foot is a thick band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes and supporting the arch of the foot. When this tissue becomes inflamed, the condition is known as plantar fasciitis. It is the most common type of heel pain, and it can be very painful.
The majority of people with plantar fasciitis are women between the ages of 40 and 60, and it is commonly experienced by runners. In fact, it is believed to be caused by repetitive microtrauma to the heel, which occurs among runners, those who are overweight, those with flat feet and those with jobs that require prolonged standing. It is also common among those with Type II diabetes.
Treatment Options
Most cases of plantar fasciitis will resolve on their own; conservative treatments such as medication, icing, taping, stretching or wearing orthotics can help manage the pain during the healing process. Unfortunately, the condition can take up to 12 months to heal, if it heals at all. Approximately 20% of those with plantar fasciitis will require additional, more aggressive treatment.
In such cases, surgery is often recommended to “release” the fascia. For many, this can relieve the pain and inflammation. However, up to 44% of those who have this surgery will experience swelling and tenderness for up to 10 years after surgery.1 Others may experience complications such as continued pain, nerve injury and instability.
In recent years, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and laser therapy have evolved as less invasive options to treat plantar fasciitis. Regrettably, these require multiple treatment sessions and their success rates hover between 51-76%.2,3 What’s more, the use of anti-inflammatory medications can slow the healing process from these procedures, and those who have had recent corticosteroid injections or have implanted devices or hormones are not eligible for ESWT.4
A new treatment option called plantar fasciitis embolization (PFE) is gaining popularity nationwide. It has been clinically proven as a safe and effective treatment. You can learn more about this minimally invasive, outpatient treatment option offered by NG Vascular & Vein Center doctors by clicking here.
- Rebekah Gibbons et al. Evaluation of Long-Term Outcomes Following Plantar Fasciotomy. Foot Ankle Int. 2018 Nov; 39(11):1312-1319.
- R. Scheuer et al. Approaches to optimize focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) based on an observational study of 363 feet with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. International Journal of Surgery Volume 27, March 2016, Pages 1-7.
- Dovile Naruseviciute et al. The effect of high-intensity versus low-level laser therapy in the management of plantar fasciitis: randomized participant blind controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2020 Aug; 34(8): 1072-1082.
- Reilly JM, Bluman E, Tenforde AS. Effect of shockwave treatment for Management of Upper and Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Conditions: a narrative review. PM R. 2018;10(12):1385‐1403
