Despite the many technological advances and scientific breakthroughs in health science, there is today a growing number of known physical injuries to muscle and joints. The carpal tunnel syndrome, a hand-related strain-stress injury, is a relatively new phenomenon which develops from the use of a computer mouse, also a recent human pre-occupation.
Plantar fasciitis is also one of these new phenomena. Or more accurately, it is a relatively new type of injury. In more scientific terms, plantar fasciitis is caused by chronic irritation of the arch of the foot due to excessive strain and various other causes including bone spurs, flat feet, pronation and tight calves. It is simply a recurring strain injury among people who uses their feet and legs heavily. It is therefore common among runners, hikers and even cashiers who stand for considerable amounts of time. The injury is a repeating combination of minor foot, arch and heel pain but there are more serious or severe cases that lead to temporary or permanent disability.
As a relatively new medical problem, cases of plantar fasciitis have only begun to increase in the last decade and understandably, science is just beginning to better understand the problem. As such there are various confusions and outright misleading information on the subject.
There is a widespread notion for instance that plantar fasciitis is a form of tendonitis. Although they both cause similar sensations on the part of a patient, tendonitis involve the inflammation of the tendons while plantar fasciitis do not involved such inflammation. Scientists have also go on to debunk this belief since tendonitis istriggered by collagen degeneration while plantar fasciitis is not. The difference of course is important in terms of cause and treatment even though they can cause similar kinds of pain.
And in terms of treatment, increasing number of researches on the medical problem has now made available various medications and therapies that are legitimately viable treatments for plantar fasciitis. In Singapore, most of these treatments are meant to relieve pain in the heel improve strength and flexibility in the short run. There are simple medication and common pain relievers like Ibuprofen like Advil and Motrin IB as well as Naproxen Sodium such as Aleve which but do not treat the root cause of the problem but has had proven success in alleviating pain from plantar fasciitis. These solutions are however temporary pain relievers but has the advantages of being easily available and affordable as they are over-the counter drugs that may be purchased even without the prescription of a podiatrist.
There are however more lasting solutions which involve continuous therapy for a sustained period. In Singapore such continuous physical therapy for plantar fasciitis is expected to heal fascia ligaments and correct foot problems such as flat footedness. Physical therapies like stretching using special devices like custom insoles or plantar fasciitis insoles, now available in several Singapore podiatry center, can provide symptom relief and strengthen plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, leg muscles that assist ankles and knees. Arch support braces can also serve the same purpose by providing support for the stretching of the feet and distribute weight more evenly.