Fasciitis

Description:

Plantar fasciitis — a disease which main symptom is the heel pain arising or amplifying at loading. In most cases the pain syndrome is caused by inflammatory and degenerative changes of a plantar (bottom) fascia. Less often calcaneal pain is directly connected with traumatization of surrounding soft tissues bone growths. This disease still also has the demotic name a calcaneal spur or a spur on a heel though this term is not absolutely right, the calcaneal spur (a bone outgrowth) is the investigation of a plantar fasciitis.

Fasciitis reasons:

The bottom fascia is attached to a calcaneal hillock and heads of plusnevy bones, supporting the longitudinal arch of foot. In vertical position of the person about a half of mass of his body puts pressure upon a plantar fascia, at the same time the largest tension is tested by its fabrics in the place of an attachment to a calcaneal hillock. Due to constant loading fascia microtears which normal regress independently are possible. However, in certain cases constant microtraumatization can serve as the reason of a chronic aseptic inflammation with a pain syndrome. Against the background of a plantar fasciitis, as compensatory reaction, formation of the regional bone growths which received the name of "calcaneal spurs" is possible.

From fasciitis people preferential suffer 40 years are more senior, and more women are predisposed to this disease. The probability of development of calcaneal spurs is increased excess weight, by problems with a backbone, arthritises, flat-footedness, diseases of large joints of legs, calcaneus injuries, gout, disturbance of blood circulation of legs. Also plantar fasciitis occurs at athletes at long loadings in a heel

Fasciitis symptoms:

The leading symptom of a plantar fasciitis — the pains in calcaneal area arising or amplifying at loading. Pain is more expressed in the morning. In most cases for diagnosis of a plantar fasciitis there is enough analysis of complaints of the patient, physical survey and X-ray analysis allowing to reveal existence of a calcaneal spur. Lack of a calcaneal spur in total with calcaneal pain demand the differential diagnosis, first of all, with general inflammatory diseases (a pseudorheumatism, a syndrome of Reuters, etc.) which can also debut calcaneal pain.

Treatment of a fasciitis:

Treatment of a plantar fasciitis consists in ensuring unloading with different use of insoles and thrust bearings, the physiotherapeutic complex treatment directed to elimination of an inflammation of soft tissues and a softening of "spur": ultrasonic therapy, low-intensive laser care, local introduction of corticosteroids (дипроспан, флостерон), roentgenotherapy, mud applications, mineral bathtubs. In the presence of calcaneal spurs of the big sizes performing shock and wave therapy at which the bone outgrowth collapses the directed influence of sound wave energy is shown. In the absence of effect of above-mentioned methods, apply operational treatment — removal of a bone outgrowth in the surgical way and excision of the changed fabrics.

For reduction of pressure when walking upon calcaneal area and maintenance of the longitudinal arch of foot patients are recommended to use orthopedic insoles instep supports and special soft inserts with deepening in the center of a heel. Often sick massage and the physiotherapy exercises directed to elimination of the reasons of a calcaneal spur also helps. The reasons in this case are connected with shortening and rigidity of connecting tissues of foot and shin (fastion, sinews, etc.). They are stretched special physical exercises (especially in the mornings) that then when walking there were no microgaps in the field of foot. Patients are recommended to lead active lifestyle, but to avoid foot overloads, also in time to treat flat-footedness and arthritises. People with an excess weight should lose weight to reduce loads of foot.