Plantar Fasciitis: Pain You Can’t Outrun

Plantar fasciitis is a painful disorder that affects the heel and the bottom of the foot.  The condition occurs within a thick band of tissue which runs from the heel bone to the toes, the plantar fascia.  Several studies into plantar fasciitis report evidence of local inflammatory changes which may contribute to the condition.1,2,3  The condition is also referred to as Jogger’s Heel because of its frequency among runners.  In fact, the disorder is estimated to account for 8% of all running-related injuries.4

Plantar fasciitis is the most commonly reported cause of chronic pain beneath the heel5, and typically manifests as a sharp, stabbing pain in the bottom of the foot.  Pain is normally reported as worse in the morning, but can also be triggered by long periods of standing or activity.

Traditional treatments include physiotherapy and may involve the use of night splints or orthotics.  In advanced cases patients often rely on steroid shots which offer temporary pain relief.  In extreme cases, surgically detaching the plantar fascia from the heel bone is the only option to provide long-term pain relief.  This invasive procedure can weaken the arch of the foot, leading to potential mobility issues in the patient’s future.

Increasingly patients are seeking treatment options which are both non-invasive, pain-free and effective.  Recent studies have shown Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) as a promising treatment option for chronic plantar fasciitis.  In a 2014 study, patients received six treatments of LLLT over three weeks, and demonstrated a mean improvement in heel pan VAS from 67.8/100 at the baseline to 6.9/100 at the 12-month follow up period.6

To learn more about treating Plantar Fasciitis and other conditions with laser therapy, join us for an educational seminar Treating Foot & Ankle Injuries with Non-Thermal Laser Therapy, September 28th at 6pm.  Dr. Kel Sherkin will explore how non-thermal laser therapy can help a variety of podiatric conditions encountered by practitioners of all disciplines. To find out more, visit www.theralase.com/seminar-oshawa/.

Theralase LLLT systems are a unique, drug-free, non-invasive and non-immunosuppressive therapeutic modality which reduces pain and inflammation right at the source.  The effects of Theralase laser therapy also cause an increase in tissue regeneration and accelerated healing.  To find out more about how Theralase non-thermal laser therapy can help your patients suffering from plantar fasciitis or other chronic disorders, request a free demo today.

For patients wanting to find out more about how Theralase non-thermal laser therapy can help, visit www.theralase.com/clinic-locator to find a practitioner near you.

 

  1. Jarde O, Diebold P, Havet E, Boulu G, Vernois J: Degenerative lesions of the plantar fascia: surgical treatment by fasciectomy and excision of the heel spur. A report on 38 cases. Acta Orthop Belg 2003, 69(3):276-274. OpenURL
  2. Leach R, Seavey M, Salter D: Results of surgery in athletes with plantar fasciitis. Foot Ankle 1986, 7(3):156-161. PubMed Abstract OpenURL
  3. Schepsis A, Leach R, Gorzyca J: Plantar fasciitis: etiology, treatment, surgical results, and review of the literature. Clin Orthop 1991, 266:185-196. PubMed Abstract OpenURL
  4. Taunton JE, Ryan MB, Clement DB, McKenzie DC, Lloyd-Smith DR, Zumbo BD: A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries. Br J Sports Med 2002, 36:95-101.
  5. Buchbinder R: Plantar Fasciitis. New Engl J Med 2004, 350(21):2159-2166.
  6. Jastifer et all: Low-Level Laser Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Prospective Study. US National Library of Medicine, 2014 Feb 7. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24510123