Generally, this condition is a self-limited condition. Nevertheless, the symptoms commonly resolve more quickly when the interval between the symptoms onset and treatment onset is shorter. There are many treatment options that exist and some are as follows:
Shoes
Changing your shoes to proper fitting will be a great help in some sufferers. Some people are wearing shoes that are too small, and this may result to exacerbating many kinds of foot plan. Patients most commonly find that wearing shoes with well-cushioned and thicker midsoles commonly made of a material such s ethylene vinyl acetate with high density can decrease the pain that is associated with long hours of standing or walking.
Night splints
This treatment option is commonly designed to keep your ankle in a neutral position overnight. Most people naturally sleep flexing the feet plantar, which is a position that causes the plant fascia to be in a foreshortened position. This treatment will enable passive stretching of the calf and plantar fascia while sleeping.
Iontophoresis
It is a treatment option that used galvanic current stimulation unit with low voltage only to provide electric impulses for driving the corticosteroids to the structures of soft tissue. Using this treatment will provide significant improvement in 2 weeks. However, it is costly and time consuming, and it should be administered by a physical therapists or athletic training for at least 203x a week.
Stretching and strengthening
These play a significant role in treatment plant fasciitis, correcting the functional risk factors like weakness of the intrinsic foot muscles and tightness of the gastrocsoleus complex. It is of great importance to increase the flexibility of your calf muscles. Stretching techniques include stair stretches and wall stretches.
Anti-inflammatory agents
These include iontophoresis, ice, cortisone injections, and NSAIDs. Ice can be applied in your treatment through ice massage, ice pack, or ice bath.
Corticosteroid injections
It has the greatest benefit when administered early on the disease course. However, due to the associated risks, they are most commonly reserved for recalcitrant cases. Steroids can be injected via medical approaches with or without ultrasound guidance or through the plantar with 70% of success rate.
Arch supports and orthotics
Patients who have low arches have decreased the ability of absorbing the forced that are generated by the foot strike’s impact. The most commonly used mechanical corrections include over-the-counter arch support, arch taping, and custom orthotics.
Surgery
In cases that are not responding to any conservative treatment, you may opt for a surgical release of the plantar fascia. The surgery of plantar fasciotomy may be performed using endoscopic, pen, or radiofrequency lesioning techniques. All in all, the success rate of this kind of treatment include heel hypoesthesia, longitudinal arch flattening, and potential complications with the plantar fascia rupture.
Understanding the different treatment options that you can take for plantar fasciitis will be helpful in getting the right treatment for you, and determining the severity of your condition.
