What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis presents as severe pain in the heel after a period of rest or with the first steps of the day which alleviates with movement of the foot. The cardinal sign of Plantar Fasciitis is that it feels like you’re walking on glass the first time you get up in the morning with sharp pains to the bottom of the feet. Through the day it gets better, but it is bad enough you don’t want to stand for long periods, walk long distances, or stand on concrete. When resting your foot pain may improve, but by the next morning the pain is back again.
Who can suffer from Plantar Fasciits?
The risk factors for developing Plantar Fasciitis include obesity, flat feet, limb length discrepancy, and overuse. Activities like jogging, hiking, walking or any activity that causes repetitive overuse can cause or contribute to this problem. Tightness of the Achilles tendon and inappropriate foot wear has also proven to cause Plantar Fasciitis. Flat shoes, sandals or flip flops are all culprits that make the problem worse.
How is Plantar Fasciitis diagnosed?
The early stages of diagnosis include a thorough history and a physical examination. Often times in physical exam, you’ll find pain or tenderness in the Plantar Fascia or in the Achilles tendon up into the calf. Further diagnostic tools are available, but many times not necessary as the first line of treatment.
Are steroid injections or PRP better for Plantar Fasciitis?
In a comparative study of patients with diagnosed Plantar Fasciitis that failed conservative treatments, PRP treatments provided better functional outcomes than steroid injections. This study found that both groups had symptomatic relief as well as improvements functionally and subjectively. Both groups were followed post-treatment and suggested platelet-rich plasma treatment provided the most favorable outcome.
PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma treatments involve collecting a small amount of your blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the red cells. The collected platelets are then injected back into the injured area to stimulate healing and regeneration. PRP puts specific components in the blood to work. Blood is made up of four main components; plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Each part plays a role in keeping your body functioning properly. Platelets act as wound and injury healers. They are first on the scene at an injury, clotting to stop any bleeding and immediately helping to regenerate new tissue in the wounded area.
How is IMAC’s conservative treatment for Plantar Fasciitis different?
Conservative treatment is non-surgical treatment. IMAC approaches orthopedic and sports injury from a different perspective. At IMAC we know that your foot doesn’t live on an island by itself, it’s part of the body. Our practice considers the whole body, or whole person, when it comes to treating an injury. For example, a leg length discrepancy could be the culprit of your foot pain. The team of experienced medical doctors at IMAC will perform a full evaluation which will include spine, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, and foot examination. In the medical world, this is also known as the kinetic chain. This helps us identify the root cause of your problem.
Why should active people choose IMAC’s PRP treatment for Plantar Fasciitis?
Simply put, using PRP to treat injuries like Plantar Fasciitis speeds up the process to get you back to the activities you enjoy like running, biking, and hiking. At IMAC we know you want to get back to an active lifestyle in the shortest time period possible and our integrated medical team is committed to helping you achieve your goals without the use of surgery or opioid medications.
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