Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. It accounts for about 10% of all orthopedic diseases. Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammatory-dystrophic lesion of the plantar fascia that occurs against the background of calcium salt deposits in the calcaneal tuber region. Different methods are used to treat Plantar Fasciitis, including massage.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia due to increased stress or insufficiency of the plantar fascia. The development of an inflammatory and degenerative process in the aponeurosis tissues contributes to:
- flatfoot with a longitudinal deformity of the foot;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- excess body weight;
- prolonged static loads on the feet;
- sharp pressure on the foot after a long period of rest;
- micro traumas in the course of intense sports training.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
The main manifestation of the pathology is pain. At the first stages of the disease, it occurs while walking. As the development and aggravation of the severity of the pathology, the pain sensations become stronger and more acute. Particularly characteristic of plantar fasciitis is the “starting” pain that occurs when you start moving after a long break or sleep.
During examination of the foot there are usually no pronounced clinical signs, in some cases there is a slight swelling in the heel area. Palpation reveals pain in the lateral parts of the heel bone and in the middle of the heel on the plantar side.
The intensity of pain and severity of symptoms of pathology may vary and do not depend on the size of the bone formation. For example, even a small growth in the calcaneal tuberosity can cause severe burning pain and cause complete disability of the patient, while the formation of a large osteophyte in another patient can manifest only slight discomfort while walking.
Any attempts at self-treatment without consulting a competent doctor are fraught with the development of even more serious complications and can only lead to a worsening of the patient’s well-being. It should be understood that the use of home treatment methods instead of full medical therapy will only delay the recovery of the patient and lead to the progression of the disease.
Plantar fasciitis is treatable with foot massage, but during therapy, the plantar fascia of the foot should not receive direct stress. For this purpose, the client should wear orthopedic shoes with a heel.
Massage for Plantar Fasciitis
Massage is widely used to treat Plantar Fasciitis at home. The purpose of massage for plantar fasciitis is to relieve muscle spasm, increase micro circulation in the affected area, to activate local metabolism, reduce pain and improve tissue tropism. The massage technique combines stroking, rubbing, kneading of tissues in the heel area and the entire sole, pinching and pressing. The therapeutic effect of massage in this case can only be obtained by combining it with other therapeutic methods (physiotherapy, medication, etc.).
