PLANTAR FASCIITIS - MORE HELPFUL HINTS

HEEL PAIN / PLANTAR FASCIITIS




Plantar fasciitis (fash-ee-itis, often pronounced face-ee-itis), is one of those medical enigmas (mysteries).

Once upon a time, lots of fat ladies who came to me with pain in their heel / heels. They were usually around 45 to 65 years old. They mostly wore flip-flops or backless shoes / scuffs. They had severe pain when arising, that subsided after 15 - 20 minutes of ambulation. There was an occasional man who fit the same model. X-rays usually showed a heel spur, but not always, (this is significant for this problem - plus many other pain issues).

Other male and female overweight patients came in with the same story, however the X-rays did not -show a heel spur.

Then, as years went by, lots of young ladies, and young men, slim and trim came in to see me with the same symptoms. Some had spurs on their X-ray's, others didn't.?

Now, at this point, as a behavioral analyst - podiatrist, I'm beginning to wonder? What's the deal? A cortisone shot helped one, but not the other? Orthotics helped one, but not the other? Surgical removal of the spur on one was a miracle, but made the next one worse? I even employed the use of an ultrasound imagery device which showed exactly where I was placing the needle, and the cortisone injection. This helped a little, but not a miracle. Physical Therapy never worked. Acupuncture & Chiropractic was a crap-shoot too.

After I  learned how to perform Bowen's Medical Bodywork Technique, a little more light was shed on the subject. Tight  lower leg muscles which were released, offered another solution. Release of the Gluteal muscles over the sciatic nerve offered some others a solution.

So, it appears to be an Iffy thing at this point, right?

Walla- Stretching. The missing piece to the plantar fasciitis puzzel.

My last year in practice, I began prescribing a DynaSplint ® device. This splint holds the foot and ankle at a position of stretch which dilates the blood vessels and allows more blood flow in, and lets the stagnate blood flow out - not rockety science. My patients had to comply for 5 hours ,[cumulatively], per day. Those that did, it was a miracle. Those that did not were so-so.

There's another options.

1.Get a 3 foot heavy - black rubber, bungee cord. Place it under  the ball of your foot and pull back with your hands. Increase the pressure and push your foot down against the resistance. Do both feet so there isn't an imbalance. Stretch for 3 to 5 minutes per foot as many times a day as you can.

2. Stretch as in #1, before you get out of bed in the morning.

3. Put your shoes on, and lace them up, before you hit the floor in the morning. This gives your foot some protection.

4. While sleeping, you're body is in the healing mode. When you arise, you can undo what has been heeling the past 8 hours, so - be careful!

5. Get 3 Bowen sessions a week apart.

6. Find a podiatrist who will strap your arch - I will provide a tutorial on how to do so. And then, get some orthotics, once your pain has subsided.. This works, almost every time.  http://youtu.be/TzrS40yPnWo