Should we classify plantar fasciitis treatments into two categories?
True plantar fasciitis is due to an overload in the plantar fascia, so the logical way to treat plantar fasciitis is to reduce that load. It could be assumed that any treatment is likely to fail long term if this load is not reduced. So should be consider plantar fasciitis treatments under the two categories of those that reduce the load and those that facilitate the healing?
Those treatments that reduce the load:
- Activity modification
- Certain design parameter on foot orthotics
- Low dye strapping
- Calf muscle stretching
- Surgical
Those treatments that facilitate the healing:
- ICE and heat
- Injection therapies (cortisone, nerve blocks etc)
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Manual therapies (massage, manipulation, active release techniques etc)
- Shockwave therapy
- Cyrosurgery
- Coblation
- etc
How successful will be the second group of therpies in the long term if the load is not addressed?
For the latest on plantar fasciitis, see Podiatry Arena.
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