Options For Plantar Fasciitis Treatment San Francisco Patients Need To Know

By Angela Briggs


There are a number of modalities of plantar fasciitis treatment san Francisco residents may wish to consider if struggling with the condition. The treatment is centred on a number of goals. Perhaps the most significant of them is reduction of pain. This pain, which characteristically is worse in the morning on waking up, improves as one uses the foot during the day. It is not only a major discomfort but it is also quite incapacitating. Therapy also aims at restoring proper function.

The condition is quite common and you do not need to panic. There is a particularly high incidence among athletes who subject their planter fascia to repeated strain and tearing and consequently results in inflammation. The planter fascia is a band of tough tissue that covers the foot and spans from the heel to the toes. Other groups of persons in whom it is also common include the obese, pregnant women and persons that use improper footwear. On average it occurs between ages 40 and 60.

The earlier the intervention, the better is the outcome. Patients are therefore encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as they notice the suggestive symptoms. Some of the initial treatments that can be used include proper feet rest and restriction of daily activities that exacerbate the symptoms. Affected persons should avoid walking or running on hard surfaces that are likely to make the condition worse. Ice packs can be used to provide temporary relief to pain.

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.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDS are used for pain relief but the effects vary from one person to another. The effect is often short term which means that they have to be taken frequently. As a result some of the patients may suffer from the adverse effects of these drugs that include, among others, peptic ulcer disease and renal disease. Commonly used options in this category include aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. These drugs are available as pills and creams that can be applied over the affected area.

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 is a very important part of management. All that is needed is a few simple routines every day starting early in the morning. The exercises are mainly stretches of toes and calves. This serves to increase the flexibility of ligaments and the arches of the feet.

If they are having plantar fasciitis treatment san francisco residents need to know that response to therapy is not uniform. There is significant variability from one person to another. The important thing to do is to ensure that they visit their doctors on a regular basis to check on the progress.




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