Search Results
Plantar Fasciitis
A Degenerative Process (Fasciosis) Without Inflammation
The authors review histologic findings from 50 cases of heel spur surgery for chronic plantar fasciitis. Findings include myxoid degeneration with fragmentation and degeneration of the plantar fascia and bone marrow vascular ectasia. Histologic findings are presented to support the thesis that “plantar fasciitis” is a degenerative fasciosis without inflammation, not a fasciitis. These findings suggest that treatment regimens such as serial corticosteroid injections into the plantar fascia should be reevaluated in the absence of inflammation and in light of their potential to induce plantar fascial rupture. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 93(3): 234-237, 2003)
Abstract
Background: Online health-related information has become increasingly popular. Social media platforms have great potential to support and change patients’ perspective. Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common disease which is one of the most frequently researched subjects in foot problems. This study aimed to assess the content, quality and reliability of YouTube videos related to PF and to evaluate if they reflect current PF treatment guidelines.
Methods: The descriptive cross - sectional study analyzed the most viewed 79 YouTube videos retrieved by using the keyword “plantar fasciitis”. The quality, reliability and content of the videos were analyzed using Global Quality Scale (GQS), the modified DISCERN, JAMA and content scoring system by two independent physiotherapist. The analyzed videos were divided into three groups according to their GQS score as high, intermediate and low quality. Also, video parameters were compared between the useful and misleading groups.
Results: Of the analyzed 79 videos, 26 (32.9%) were of low quality, 29 (36.7%) were of intermediate quality and 24 were of (30.3%) high quality. Most of high quality videos were uploaded by allied health professionals (39.4%). View ratio and video power index scores were highest in patients. There were significant differences between useful and misleading videos in terms of DISCERN, GQS and JAMA scores (p =0.000, p=0.000, p=0.020, respectively). Almost all of the evaluated videos contain at least one treatment approach.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the vast of majority YouTube videos on PF are useful and comprehensive, also our results may propose that the vast majority of the videos reflect current treatment guidelines. Video-based information about PF may provide valuable insight to patients, especially in the absence of a direct access to healthcare stakeholders.
Mechanical Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
A Prospective Study
A randomized, prospective study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of three individual mechanical modalities in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Two hundred fifty-five subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: custom-made orthoses, over-the-counter arch supports, or tension night splints. Subjects were treated for 3 months, with follow-up visits at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. No statistically significant difference was noted among treatment groups with respect to final outcomes based on first-step pain or pain felt during the day. However, there was a statistically significant difference among the three groups with respect to early patient withdrawal from the study due to continued severe pain, noncompliance, or inability to tolerate the device. Patient compliance was greatest with the use of custom-made orthoses. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 91(2): 55-62, 2001)
Plantar Fasciitis or Flexor Digitorum Brevis Myositis
Is It Time to Reconsider the True Causes of Heel Pain?
Background: As common as plantar fasciitis is, there’s a lack of evidence regarding the true pathophysiologic process causing plantar fasciitis and plantar heel pain in general. This may partially explain the high variability and outcomes with current treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Although Lemont reported myxoid degeneration of plantar fascia with histologic analysis of patients with fasciitis, muscle biopsy results were not reported. So far it appears we have not focused on the muscular component that may be present with plantar heel pain in general and in patients we diagnose with plantar fasciitis in particular.
Methods: In this article we performed a retrospective analysis of biopsy results from five patients with the diagnosis of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis to determine whether this diagnosis was correct or whether other component pathologies contribute to the chronicity of symptoms or to the failure of treatment.
Results: Three of the five pathology reports included specific mention of inflammation, degeneration and atrophy of the intrinsic musculature consistent with myositis. Two of these showed lymphocytic infiltration in the muscle consistent with inflammation, with no signs of inflammation in the fascia. One showed inflammation of the fascia without signs of inflammation of the muscle.
Conclusions: This small study introduces the idea that intrinsic myositis may contribute to, or be responsible for some cases of plantar heel pain and plantar fasciitis. This may be important in changing the way we deal with plantar heel pain in the future.
Background
The windlass mechanism, first described by John Hicks in 1954, defines the anatomical and biomechanical relationship between the hallux and the plantar fascia. Hallux valgus (HV) and plantar fasciitis are the most common foot disorders, and, to date, no study has evaluated the relationship between these disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and factors associated with plantar fasciitis in patients with HV deformity.
Methods
In this prospective observational study, 486 patients with HV were divided into three groups according to stage of HV deformity. Patient sex, age, and body mass index were recorded. Presence of accompanying plantar fasciitis and heel spur was investigated by physical and radiographic examination. First metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion of the affected side was measured. Patients with or without plantar fasciitis were also compared to evaluate factors associated with plantar fasciitis.
Results
Mean age and body mass index of the patients were significantly different among the three HV groups. The incidence of plantar fasciitis and heel spur significantly increased in correlation with the severity of HV deformity. Increased age and HV stage and decreased first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion were significantly associated with presence of plantar fasciitis in HV.
Conclusions
In this study, the incidence of plantar fasciitis was significantly increased in correlation with the severity of HV deformity. Significant association was found between plantar fasciitis and HV, which are anatomically and biomechanically related to each other by the windlass mechanism.
Background
We sought to determine whether patients with plantar fasciitis have limited dorsiflexion in the first metatarsophalangeal joint and which type of foot, pronated or supinated, is most frequently associated with plantar fasciitis.
Methods
The 100 study participants (34 men and 66 women) were divided into two groups: patients with plantar fasciitis and controls. The Foot Posture Index and dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint were compared between the two groups, and a correlation analysis was conducted to study their relationship.
Results
In the plantar fasciitis group there was a slight limitation of dorsiflexion of the hallux that was not present in the control group (P < .001). Hallux dorsiflexion and the Foot Posture Index were inversely correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient, −0.441; P < .01).
Conclusions
Participants with plantar fasciitis presented less hallux dorsiflexion than those in the control group, and their most common foot type was the pronated foot.
Abstract
Background: The effectiveness of different energy levels used in extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) have been investigated in previous studies, but controversy remains regarding which energy levels should be used in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of different energy levels used in ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis through comparisons of plantar fascia thickness and pressure distribution.
Methods: Between July 2020 and September 2020, a total of 51 patients (71 feet) with plantar fasciitis were randomized into three treatment groups using the sealed envelope method. Group 1 (n = 25) received low energy density (0.09 mJ/mm2 ), Group 2 (n = 25) received medium energy density (0.18 mJ/mm2), and Group 3 (n = 21) received high energy density (0.38 mJ/mm2). All groups received three sessions of ESWT with a frequency of 2,000 shocks/min at one week intervals. The patients were evaluated before and after treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Foot Function Index (FFI), and plantar fascia thickness measured by ultrasonography, and plantar pressure distribution.
Results: The posttreatment VAS and FFI scores were determined to be statistically significantly lower than the pretreatment values in all three groups (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the pre and post treatment values of VAS, FFI scores, plantar fascia thickness and pressure distribution (p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of percentage changes in all the outcome parameters (p>0.05).
Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that neither low, medium, or high levels of ESWT were superior to one another in terms of pain, foot functions, fascia thickness and pressure distribution in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis Using Four Different Local Injection Modalities
A Randomized Prospective Clinical Trial
Background: To determine the effectiveness of four different local injection modalities in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Methods: In a prospective randomized multicenter study of plantar fasciitis, 100 patients were divided into four equal groups and were treated using four different methods of local injection: group A was treated with 2 mL of autologous blood alone; group B, an anesthetic (2 mL of lidocaine) combined with peppering; group C, a corticosteroid (2 mL of triamcinolone) alone; and group D, a corticosteroid (2 mL of triamcinolone) combined with peppering. The outcome was defined by using a 10-cm visual analog scale and modified criteria of the Roles and Maudsley score 3 weeks and 6 months after the injection and compared with the pretreatment condition.
Results: The successful results in all of the groups after injections were higher than those in the pretreatment condition (P = .000). In groups C and D, in which local corticosteroid injections were used, excellent results were obtained, with superior effect in the group in which peppering was used (P < .05).
Conclusions: In the treatment of plantar fasciitis, combined corticosteroid injections and peppering is effective and produces better clinical results. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 99(2): 108–113, 2009)
Fibrosarcoma is an uncommon, malignant soft-tissue tumor that is rarely found as a primary neoplasm in the foot. A case report is presented that demonstrates a large, locally invasive fibrosarcoma of the plantar aspect of the foot with initial symptoms consistent with plantar fasciitis. Below-the-knee amputation was performed as curative treatment. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 92(9): 507-511, 2002)
Background: Anisomelia, or limb-length discrepancy, has disruptive effects on gait, posture, and ambulation. Limb-length discrepancy has been shown to be a factor in stress fractures in the femur and tibia, and the longer limb, a contributing factor in the development of low-back pain, a cause of scoliosis. We sought to determine whether limb-length discrepancy contributes to the frequency and severity of plantar fasciitis.
Methods: We enrolled 26 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Direct and indirect methods were used to measure limb-length discrepancy. We took measurements from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial malleolus and from the umbilicus to the medial malleolus and performed the block test. Body mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) was also recorded for all of the patients.
Results: There is enough evidence to support the fact that the pain location and the longer limb are associated (Fisher test P < .0001). There was not enough evidence in this study to illustrate that body mass index was related to pain location (Fisher test P = .7411).
Conclusions: There has been little research on etiology and treatment correlation. These results indicate a strong correlation between a longer limb and unilateral plantar fasciitis pain. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(6): 452–455, 2010)
