What are the Main Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis?
posted: Jan. 14, 2022.
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What are the Main Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It is caused by the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes. If left untreated, the pain can interfere with normal movement and activities.
Plantar fascia treatment options range from home remedies like the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compress, elevate) to more intensive treatments like injections and surgery.
This article looks at all the treatment options you have if home remedies do not bear fruit.
Medication
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories are typically the first line of treatment for plantar fasciitis. Usual medications might include ibuprofen, paracetamol or acetaminophen, and naproxen sodium. While such medicines offer temporary relief, combining them with the RICE protocol can help ease the strain on the foot and reduce the pain more sustainably.
Therapy
Therapy introduces exercises and stretches targeting the inflamed plantar fascia and other connected tissues like the Achilles tendon. An objective of such activities is to strengthen the calf muscles to support the feet in carrying the body’s weight.
Orthotics
Custom-built or off-the-shelf orthotics can offer foot arch and heel support, so the foot has a better posture while walking or standing. A podiatrist measures the foot and uses these measurements to determine the best orthotics for your foot. Orthotics are preferred for individuals with plantar fasciitis caused by a flat foot.
Injections
Steroids and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections can offer relief from plantar fasciitis pain. Steroids reduce inflammation while PRP promotes healing and new tissue formation in the area. One of the risks of injections is that constant piercing can weaken the tissue and cause it to rupture.
Shock Wave Therapy
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) exposes the affected area to intense sound waves stimulating healing. Podiatrists recommend treating chronic plantar fasciitis that has not responded to other conservative treatments with shockwave therapy.
Ultrasonic Tissue Repair
UTR uses ultrasonic waves to treat plantar fasciitis. During the procedure, the foot surgeon guides a needlelike probe to the affected area where ultrasound energy vibrates the tip rapidly. The vibration breaks up damaged tissue, which the surgeon suctions out, allowing the site to regenerate new, healthy tissue.
Surgery
Surgery is the treatment of last resort. Most people typically will not get to this point before finding relief from another treatment. However, surgery is an option when plantar fasciitis does not respond to other treatments. During the procedure, the podiatric surgeon detaches the plantar fascia from the heel, relieving the tension and eradicating the pain.
Picking the Right Treatment Option
As a rule of thumb, it is always best to start with the least invasive treatment and progress to more intensive treatments if the pain does not subside. Fortunately, pain medication and RICE are usually enough to relieve the pain for most people. It might take a combination of treatments or, rarely, surgery to obtain a favorable outcome for others.