Plantar Fascitis is a problem related to chronic heel pain. The pain is usually first steps in the morning or after a period of rest and decreases after a few minutes of walking. The pain is in the heel region and is a dull aching. We are experts at treating achilles heel spur pain.
Patients will present with the following complaints:
- Pain with first steps
- Aching of the heel region
- Difficulty with running or long walks
- Stiffness in the morning in the heel region
The treatment of Plantar Fasci9tis has evolved over the past several years. What was once thought to be an inflammatory process is now considered to be more of a scar tissue formation issue.
During the first 3 months of pain, there is inflammation from the initial injury. After about 6 months, the inflammation is gone and there is chronic scar tissue that the body does not respond to.
Treatment options differ for early versus late plantar fascia cases.
Treatments used for plantar fasciitis cases are new and have been present for less than 6 months:
Ice massage with a cold water bottle from the heel to the ball of the foot- Achilles stretching exercises
- Over the counter insoles
- Custom orthotics
- Night splint
- Physical therapy
Ice massage with a cold water bottle from the heel to the ball of the footAs noted, the problem changes after about 6 months from inflammatory to non-inflammatory. For the body to heal the plantar fascia, it needs to supply blood to the area. In order to do this, there needs to be mold trauma or irritation of the plantar fascia scar area to increase blood supply and allow healing.
Treatments used for Plantar Fasciitis cases that have not resolved for over 6 months:
- Physical therapy with cross fiber massage
- Laser therapy
- Shockwave therapy
- Platelet rich plasma injections
- Topaz micro plantar fasciotomy
If all else fails, a plantar fascia release may be necessary. This is a simple procedure, but University Foot and Ankle Institute strives to save the plantar fascia and avoid fascia release surgery.
University Foot and Ankle Institute treats well over 3000 plantar fasciitis cases per year. Our rate of success without the need for fascia release surgery is over 95%. We provide all the above noted therapies and pride ourselves on being cutting edge in the care of foot and ankle ailments including a specialty in plantar fasciitis research and development of many of today’s top treatment options.
Read more about plantar fasciitis or call 877-989-9110 for an appointment with a doctor.
Dr. Bob Baravarian, DPM, FACFAS
Dr. Baravarian has been involved in athletics his entire life and played competitive tennis in high school and college. He has an interest in sports medicine, arthritis therapy and trauma/reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He servers as a consultant to the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tour, multiple running organizations and several shoe manufacturers. He is also fluent in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Farsi and Hebrew),
Podiatrist Dr. Bob Baravarian is available for consultation at the Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks and UCLA Westwood offices.
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