Plantar fasciitis | Plantar fasciitis symptoms | plantar fasciitis treatment

All about Plantar Fasciitis

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of your foot. Plantar fascia is the thick band of tissue that covers the bones on the bottom of your foot. Plantar fasciitis is seen both in men and women however, it is seen mostly in active men of age between 40 to70 compared to others.

How does it occur?

It occurs when the plantar fascia is overstretched or overused.

Who is at risk of getting plantar fasciitis?

If you have arch problems, both flat feet and high arches. If you are long distance runner, especially, running through uneven surfaces. Also, sudden weight or obesity contributes to plantar fasciitis. In addition, tight Achilles tendon and wearing a shoe with a poor arch support may also increase the incidence of getting plantar fasciitis.

What are the symptoms?

You may feel pain and stiffness in the bottom of the heel. You may feel the pain, when you take first few steps in the morning. Pain can be felt while climbing stairs or quickly after doing an intense activity. You may also feel pain with standing or sitting continuously, for a short period of time.

Does Physical Therapy play a vital role?

In a recent article published in the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy by Cleland etai, indicated that manual therapy along with exercises proved to be more effective compared to that of traditional ones. Manual therapy includes deep soft tissue mobilization to the plantar fascia as well as joint mobilization and manipulation to the foot, ankle, knee and hip. Other therapies such as cold therapy and taping also help to decrease pain. As soon as the pain and swelling declines, physical therapist starts you on stretching exercises.

Stretching exercises such as Gastro stretch, soleus stretch and intrinsic stretch will help you to attain flexibility of the muscles of the foot. Once flexibility is attained a physical therapist will prescribe you strengthening exercises. This will help you to prevent reoccurrence of the condition. An experienced physical therapist can guide you through proper rehabilitation using modalities such as ice pack, hot pack, electrical stimulation, ultrasound,phonophoresis,iontophoresis, and manual therapy, therapeutic exercises and proper home exercise program (HEP)

Sanjaimon Naduparambil,
Physical Therapist

Phone: (954) 252-9619

Sanjay Naduparambil is a Florida State licensed Physical Therapist who graduated from the Dr. MGR Medical University in Chennai, India. Sanjay has over 20 years of experience in a variety of treatment settings including acute care, cardiac rehabilitation, wound care, neurological treatment, home healthcare and outpatient orthopedics. He has spent the last 10 years perfecting his treatment skills in the area of orthopedics and has been described by his patients as a highly competent and compassionate clinician. In early 2012, Sanjay established Maya Physical Therapy, Inc with the goal of providing the community with quality therapy services that go beyond the standards of care.

Sanjay has furthered his education/training by completing continuing education courses in the following areas: kinesiology taping, vestibular rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation, and hip/ knee/ankle/ shoulder diagnosis and treatment. He has also completed the first and second phase of the McKenzie post graduate program for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine mechanical diagnosis and treatment from McKenize Institute USA. In addition to his qualifications as a Physical Therapist, Sanjay has received his certification as a Personal Trainer by the International Sports and Fitness Trainers Association.

Sanjay’s professional interests include expanding his already extensive knowledge base through ongoing clinical education in manual treatment and differential diagnosis.