Contents
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue that extends from the heel to the toes and is also called the tendon plate of the sole of the foot.
Pain usually occurs at the origin of the plantar tendon plate, at a point under the heel or on the inside of the foot, but it can radiate to the entire sole of the foot, including the toes.
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition, similar to a heel spur .
The inflammation and degeneration of the plantar fascia causes pain near this spur.
One can suffer from plantar fasciitis with or without a heel spur, but chronic inflammation of the plantar tendon plate often leads to the formation of a bone spur.
Often the plantar fascia is not inflamed but affected by degenerative phenomena of the tendon plate.
The pain is worse when you get up in the morning because the tendon plate on the sole of the foot shortens at night.
Occurrence is insidious and insidious, inflammation as a result of trauma is extremely rare.
Plantar fasciitis is usually secondary to chronic overload.
It usually only occurs on one side, but it can affect both feet .
Although children can suffer from heel pain, it usually has another cause.
Who Gets Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is common in overweight middle-aged men and women, especially those who spend a lot of time standing.
In addition, athletes, especially runners, jumpers and hikers are often affected.
It often occurs in people who wear work shoes.
Causes of plantar fasciitis
The inflammation is often caused by overstretching and excessive stress on the plantar tendon plate.
Tendinitis occurs in people who stand, run and walk for several hours a day for work or leisure reasons .
Being overweight can increase the likelihood of plantar fasciitis because it puts extra stress on the arch of the foot.
The possible risk factors are:
- arch deformity, such as flat or arched foot;
- Shortened calf muscles (possibly the result of high heels);
- walking on any other surface can overstretch the plantar tendon plate, especially if it is hard like asphalt.
- Footwear with inappropriate inserts that do not absorb shock, especially for runners and hikers.
What are the signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis causes pain under the foot, in the inner and middle areas of the sole of the foot.
Usually the pain does not appear under the heel, but in the middle of the foot.
The result of the pain is stiffness and a limp in the affected foot.
Plantar fasciitis causes pain, stiffness, and limping in the affected foot.
The pain is often described as stabbing.
Symptoms are aggravated by stretching of the soles of the feet, particularly when climbing stairs, taking the first few steps in the morning, and after prolonged sitting.
In resting position and without load, no complaints occur. In the evening the pain is greater because you’ve been on your feet all day.
Diagnosis of plantar fasciitis
The doctor must examine the patient’s medical history to identify risk factors such as sports and work activities.
He must know the patient’s symptoms and the duration of their occurrence.
Physical examination
First, the doctor examines the painful foot and presses on the affected area in order to be able to pinpoint the symptoms.
Then it must be examined whether a hollow or flat foot is present and whether the footwear has worn off more on one side.
The doctor must watch for signs of stiffness because the symptoms can be caused by joint constraint.
Then the doctor will ask the patient to tiptoe and walk on their heels to assess the symptoms and rule out a neurological disorder.
Differential diagnosis
The doctor must exclude the following diseases:
- tarsal tunnel syndrome (pinched shin nerve);
- bone spur ;
- stress fractures ;
- Reiter’s syndrome (rheumatic disease);
- sprain of the ankle .
What are the most important diagnostic tests?
Imaging procedures can be helpful in diagnosing plantar fasciitis.
The doctor may order an ultrasound to determine the degree of inflammation or an X-ray to rule out other conditions, such as fractures, bone spurs, and arthritis .
Magnetic resonance is not usually used here.
