Plantar Fasciitis

Abstract

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.

Utilization of Physical Therapy Intervention Among Patients With Plantar Fasciitis in the United States

“…Pain is provoked with loading and with the initial few steps following periods of inactivity, such as rising from sleep in the morning and toward the end of the day. While PF has long been attributed to inflammation of the plantar fascia, current evidence suggests that the disease is more likely attributed to microscopic degeneration 14 and subsequent thickening 4,9 of the tissue. The diagnosis "plantar fasciosis" is utilized to more accurately reflect the degenerative nature of the condition.…”

Management of Idiopathic Unilateral Plantar Fasciitis

“…It is known to affect approximately 1 million persons per year, and two-thirds of patients with plantar fasciitis will seek care from their family physician and one third to orthopaedic surgeon (3,4) Plantar fasciitis is caused either due to degenerating process, hard footwear, local and systemic diseases, trauma or is idiopathic. Pathological findings involve myxoid degeneration with fragmentation and degeneration of the plantar fascia and bone marrow vascular ectasia without any signs of inflammation (5). Approximately 15% of all adult foot complaints are due to this disorder (6).…”

Biomechanical Analysis of Achilles Tendon Stretch And Plantar Fascia Stretch In Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

“…High intensity of exercise or repetitive over stretching could cause micro damages to plantar fascia, so plantar fasciitis is widely spread, causing great pain and inconvenience. Researchers have found that there is no inflammation in plantar fascia [2]. Lemont used ultrasound to obtain the sonographic image of plantar fascia and found that there was no significant changes in plantar fascia's thickness in patients [3].…”