Healing The Heel

[Guest guest]

I know this exercise works as I had this problem last year.

 

Jo

 

 

Ever wake up in the morning with excruciating heel pain as soon as

your feet hit the floor? If so, you're not alone. Severe heel pain,

also known as heel spur syndrome, but technically called plantar

fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss), affects nearly 2.5 million Americans

each year. But according to a new study published in the August 2006

issue of Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, those with plantar

fasciitis now have a promising treatment option. A newly developed

simple stretching protocol that targets plantar fasciitis has noted

marked improvement in patients and was found to be superior for

treating the inflammatory condition than the traditional weight-

bearing Achilles tendon stretch.

 

The study is a two-year follow-up on 82 patients with plantar

fasciitis, all of whom were part of an original clinical trial of 101

patients in 2003. The patients were taught a stretch that targets the

plantar fascia, the band of tissue that supports the arch and

originates on the heel bone and goes to the toes. The plantar fascia

stretching exercise requires the patient to sit with one leg crossed

over the other, and stretch the arch of the foot by taking one hand

and pulling the toes back toward the shin for a count of 10. The

exercise must be repeated 10 times, and performed at least three

times a day, including before taking the first step in the morning

and before standing after a prolonged period of sitting. More than 90

percent of the patients were totally satisfied or satisfied with

minor reservations, and noted distinct decrease in pain and activity

limitations.

 

" Plantar fasciitis is everywhere, but we really haven't had a good

handle on it, " said Benedict DiGiovanni, MD, associate professor of

orthopaedic surgery at the University of Rochester and author of the

study. " The condition often causes chronic symptoms and typically

takes about nine to 10 months to burn itself out, and for people

experiencing this pain, that's way too long to suffer through it. "

 

Dr. DiGiovanni should know. He's experienced plantar fasciitis first-

hand. Deciding to get some extra exercise on a golf outing one recent

afternoon, he carried his clubs around all 18 holes instead of an

easy-going ride in a golf cart. The next morning, he woke up with

severe heel pain, which brought the topic of his study close to home.

 

Dr. DiGiovanni described plantar fasciitis similar to pulling a

hamstring, but continuing to run without proper stretching. " Walking

without stretching those foot tissues is just re-injuring yourself, "

he said.

 

The study revealed that within three to six months of performing the

stretch, patients have a 75 percent chance of having no pain and

returning to full activity. In addition, patients have about a 75

percent chance of needing no further treatment.

 

" Surgery often involves a prolonged recovery and is associated with

about a 50 percent success rate of eliminating pain and allowing for

full activity, " said DiGiovanni. " But that's just not good enough. We

needed to further optimize non-operative treatments prior to

considering surgical options -- and if you look at the numbers, we've

succeeded. "

 

An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the

diagnosis and non-surgical as well as surgical treatment of the

musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons,

and nerves.

 

The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS) is the official scientific

publication of the 28,000-member American Academy of Orthopaedic

Surgeons ( http://www.aaos.org) or (http://www.orthoinfo.org), the

premier not-for- profit organization that provides education programs

for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions

the interests of patients and advances the highest quality

musculoskeletal health. Orthopaedic surgeons and the Academy are the

authoritative sources of information for patients and the general

public on musculoskeletal conditions, treatments and related issues.

An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating

in the Bone and Joint Decade ( http://www.usbjd.org ) -- the global

initiative in the years 2002-2011 -- to raise awareness of

musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's

quality of life. The Academy's Annual Meeting is being held March 22-

26, 2006 in Chicago.

 

The peer-reviewed JBJS, located in Needham, Mass., is published

monthly. Abstracts are available online at (http://www.jbjs.org).

 

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

http://www.aaos.org