Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Modalities Of Plantar Fasciitis Treatment San Francisco Residents Should Know About

By Angela Briggs


There are a number of available options for plantar fasciitis treatment san francisco residents can consider if they hope to get rid of this problem. The treatments are focussed on a number of objectives that include, among others, pain reduction. The pain is said to be worst in the first few hours after waking up and improves as the day progresses. It may incapacitate the patient significantly if not properly taken care of. Another major objective is the restoration of function.

This condition is fairly common hence there is no need to worry. It is especially common in athletes (runners). The reason for the high incidence is believed to be due to repeated strain on planter fascia, a thick band of tissue that covers a large part of the soles of feet. It is also common in overweight individuals, pregnant women and persons that put on improper foot wear for long periods of time. The incidence is highest between the ages of 40 and 60 years.

The general advice is that affected persons should seek treatment as soon as they start experiencing the symptoms. One of the easiest things to do is to have adequate rest and to avoid physical activities that may make the pain worse or aggravate the inflammation. Hard surfaces like concrete should be avoided as much as possible. Severe pain can be abated by the use of ice packs albeit temporarily.

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 control can also be achieved through the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS. The effectiveness of these medications is variable among patients. Usually the relief is just short term for most people and there is a need to take frequent doses. This exposes the affected person to numerous side effects of drugs such as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. Some of the most feared side effects are peptic ulcer disease and renal disease. The available formulations are pills and cream.

Since improper shoe wear is one of the aggravating factors, there is need to change the same. The shoes chosen should be good in shock absorption and must have the right arch support. It is important to ensure that shoes chosen are well cushioned to reduce the strain on the pressure point areas. Shoe inserts, orthotics help a great deal in cushioning the heel. These should be used for both feet regardless of whether only one or both feet are involved.

Physical exercise has a major role to play. This involves simple routines that are done regularly (several times every day). They include calf stretching, toe stretching and towel stretches. The best time to exercise is early in the morning. Exercising helps to increase ligament flexibility and strengthening arch support.

If undergoing plantar fasciitis treatment san francisco residents should know that the rate of recovery is not always the same. It takes a short period of time in some people and a little longer in others. Regular clinic visits are necessary to assess the progress.




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