October 15, 2018 - Dr Smaldone (Homecoming 2019) Will Teach Plantar Fasciitis Treatment, etc., etc.

Dr Smaldone will teach evaluation, treatment and taping of Plantar Fasciitis along with many other demonstrations, such as shoulder, elbow, knee, spinal and carpal tunnel...

I am including in this week’s Puzzle Piece, part of an article from Dr Mercola that covers Plantar Fasciitis extremely well.  Since 10% of the population develop it during their lifetime and as much as $376 million is spent annually, it is a condition and dysfunction we should know about and how to treat it.

Yours in Health and Wellness,

John W Brimhall, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

·    Plantar fasciitis is a condition wherein patients experience pain and inflammation in their plantar fascia ligament found across the bottom of your foot

·    Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia ligament that runs along the sole of your foot becomes inflamed, causing intense pain

·    While a one-size-fits-all solution to completely eliminate plantar fasciitis does not exist, there are various techniques that you can follow if you want to prevent this condition from wreaking havoc on your body

Foot structure — Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia ligament, that runs along the sole of the foot becomes inflamed, causing intense pain. This thin and web-like ligament, the longest in the foot, is attached to the bottom of your heel bone. It stretches and contracts to help maintain overall body balance and provides the feet with support and strength for walking and other daily activities.

Patients with plantar fasciitis often feel pain at the back of the arch and right in front of the heel. This condition is one of the most common complaints among runners.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

Too much physical stress is never a good thing, and plantar fasciitis patients can attest to this because they feel immense pain when the plantar fascia is stretched too far and becomes inflamed. Inflammation usually occurs where this ligament fastens to the heel bone. Although the plantar fascia is able to absorb stress placed on the foot, too much pressure in the heel and other tissues may contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis and often a heel spur.

In some cases, your foot's pronation, or tendency to move sideward while walking or running, becomes excessive to the point that it leads to pain. This typically occurs in your subtalar joint, found below the ankle.

Who Is Most Prone to Having Plantar Fasciitis?

People with the highest risk for plantar fasciitis are those between 40 and 60 years old, and this condition is slightly more common among women compared to men. Plantar fasciitis not only causes crippling pain, but burdens the wallet too, since a whopping $192 to $376 million are spent annually for treatment. One million visits per year are made to medical professionals who treat plantar fasciitis, affecting approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population.

Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis

•Obesity — Sudden weight gain can increase pressure on your plantar fascia.

•Predisposition: — Plantar fasciitis include people who have flat or high-arched feet, unusual walking patterns or a tight Achilles tendon.

•Having an occupation that keeps you on your feet — Factory workers and restaurant servers, who spend long hours walking or standing on hard surfaces, can injure their plantar fascia.

•Increased physical or athletic activity — While incorporating physical movement into your lifestyle is great, too much can be a bad thing. Plantar fasciitis risk is high among people who:

◦Run regularly or add additional minutes to their running time

◦Perform activities or workouts that require heavy lifting or raise stress levels

◦Exercise on hard or uneven surfaces

Dancers, including those who do ballet or aerobics, may be predisposed to plantar fasciitis too, since some movements may place additional stress on the foot.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

Patients affected with plantar fasciitis typically experience intense pain at the bottom of their foot, near the heel. Some patients with this condition describe it as a dull pain, while others feel a sharp twinge. In some instances, patients may experience a burning or ache at the bottom of the foot that extends outward from

•After exercising or working long hours — Plantar fasciitis is not only common among runners, especially those who do long distance running, run downhill or run on uneven surfaces, but also in people with jobs that require them to be on their feet for most of the time, such as factory workers or restaurant servers.

Signs Your Doctor Looks for if You Have Plantar Fasciitis

Chronic heel pain at the bottom of the foot..

Plantar Fasciitis Could Progress Into Worse Complications

If left untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel pain, change the way you walk, and result in further injuries to your legs, knees, hips and back.  The plantar fascia can also rupture and trigger heel hypoesthesia and flattening of the foot's arch.³⁹ Certain treatments such as steroid injections can weaken and rupture your plantar fascia as well.

If you ignore chronic plantar fasciitis pain for a year or more, it can develop into plantar fasciosis because avascular scarring may develop in the plantar fascia. Plantar fasciosis is painful, since the scarred tissues run low in blood supply and the pain is resistant to anti-inflammatory treatments.

How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis will be covered in detail by Dr Smaldone, including adjusting, laser and taping.

Use the Right Type of Footwear is a controversial subject but one thought is below..

According to the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., shoes with high heels, hard soles, poor support, and inadequate sizing and width often have poor cushioning. These types of shoes call for more flexibility in your calf muscles by increasing foot length and requiring the foot to bend further back

Shoes that provide ample support to your feet are valuable as well, especially if they have firm soles and extra cushioning, as they lessen pain when you are performing activities such as running or walking.

When you take a step and your heel strikes the ground, tension is placed on your plantar fascia, leading to the formation of microtrauma or tiny tears in the tissue. Cushioned shoes or inserts work by decreasing tension and microtrauma formation. Another option for potentially lessening foot pain is to put soft silicone heel pads in your shoes. They work by cushioning your heel and potentially reducing pain.  On the opposite end of the spectrum is the barefoot concept.  

Stay Away From These 'Ideal' Treatment Methods

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), despite their "ability" to eliminate inflammation, aren't the best choice for addressing plantar fasciitis. Different studies have shown that NSAIDs can cause side effects such as an upset stomach, nausea and vomiting, heart problems, GI bleeding, kidney problems, hypertension and even death.

Avoid steroid injections for plantar fasciitis if at all possible. The use of steroids even for a short period of time may increase your risk for broken bones, blood clots or life-threatening sepsis. In some cases, people may develop more adverse effects such as fluid retention and swelling of the lower legs, high blood pressure or blood sugar levels, oral thrush or fungal infection in the mouth, and weight gain.

Surgery may be recommended for some plantar fasciitis patients, but remember it is not the be-all or end-all of plantar fasciitis treatment, especially since effective nonsurgical methods are available. If you or someone you know has plantar fasciitis, take note that a surgical procedure should only be considered if:

•Conventional nonsurgical treatments don't work

•Other treatment methods you've been using for at least six months have been ineffective in treating your pain

•Your ability to do work or moderate exercise has been affected because of heel pain

Surgical Procedures for Plantar Fasciitis

Two types of surgery can be performed on plantar fasciitis patients:

•Gastrocnemius recession — This procedure aims to add to the motion of your ankle. A gastrocnemius recession involves a surgical lengthening of calf muscles, especially if they are tight, since they may increase stress on your plantar fascia. This is done via a traditional, open incision or by making a smaller incision and looking inside the area using an endoscope, a device that has a small camera.

•Plantar fascia release — Patients who complain of continuous heel pain but have a normal range of motion in their ankle are usually recommended by their physicians to undergo this type of surgery. In this procedure, the plantar fascia ligament is partially cut to decrease tension in the tissue.

A plantar fascia release can be performed via an endoscopy, wherein the endoscope is inserted into the area. However, it's arguably easier to do a plantar fascia release with an open incision since it also has a lower risk for nerve damage.

This is one of many areas of pain and dysfunction Dr Smaldone will cover.  The last time he was with us was standing room only.  Dr David is also one of our treating doctors Thursday night before our total seminar Friday through Sunday.

See YOU at Homecoming 2019
 

This next annual 2019 Brimhall Homecoming will start your new year out right!
 
Doctor/Family Treating and Brimhall Certification begins Thursday, Jan 3rd from 6-8pm.
CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR THURSDAY NIGHT TREATMENT! FILLING UP FAST! (866) 338-4883
Classes and Workshops will start Friday, Jan 4th, 8am.

John Brimhall, DC, BA, BS, DIBAK, FIAMA