| Assess
& Address
Plantar
Fasciitis
by Whitney Lowe
|
|
|
|
Plantar
fasciitis is one of the most common pain conditions of the foot;
in fact, it is the most prevalent cause of foot pain encountered
in clinical practice. Though athletes frequently experience plantar
fasciitis, even those not involved in active lifestyles also experience
this condition.
While its name might
lead one to think of it as an inflammatory condition (the "itis"
suffix), new data suggests otherwise. There is mounting evidence
that many common tendinitis complaints are actually not inflammatory
problems at all, but instead are caused by a degeneration of the
collagen matrix within the tissue. It has been suggested that
plantar fasciitis is similar to these tendon pathologies, and
that the problem is collagen degeneration in the fascial tissue.
To help understand how this occurs, consider the mechanical function
of the plantar fascia.
The plantar fascia has
an attachment at the anterior calcaneus, and then separates into
distal divisions that blend with other connective tissues near
the metatarsophalangeal joints (see Figure 1). Its primary function
is to help maintain the longitudinal arch of the foot. In addition,
the plantar fascia acts as a powerful spring that has a fundamental
role in shock absorption and forward propulsion.
References