|
| |
Archived 2007 Articles November 6th, 2007 Vertigo Many people suffer daily from vertigo, a sensation that the room/environment is spinning. It can last only a few seconds to a minute. Vertigo is often correlated with certain positions. The most common cause of vertigo is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV often occurs suddenly. Some of the causes are trauma, advanced age, inactivity and other ear diseases such as infections. This vertigo occurs when little crystals, called otoconia become loose in the canals within the inner ear. These otoconia can become stuck or float freely in the canals. This causes the body to think it is moving when it is really stationary. BPPV is often curable with physical therapy. The physical therapist can help reposition the otoconia/crystals into the correct place; therefore, stopping the dizzy sensation. If you feel you suffer from BPPV, talk to your physician about physical therapy. Erin Stratford MPT October 16th, 2007 Plantar Fasciitis Plantar Fasciitis is the most common condition of heel pain. This condition occurs when the long fibrous plantar fascia ligament along the bottom of the foot develops tears in the tissue resulting in pain and inflammation. The pain of plantar fasciitis is usually located close to where the fascia attaches to the calcaneous, also known as the heel bone.
Plantar fasciitis causes the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament which runs along the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia ligament is made of fibrous bands of tissue and runs between the heel bone and your toes and stretches with every step. Inflammation develops when tears occur in the tissue.
The most common complaint from plantar fasciitis is a burning, stabbing, or aching pain in the heel of the foot. Most sufferers will be able to feel it in the morning because the fascia ligament tightens up during the night while you sleep, causing pain to diminish. However, when we climb out of bed and place pressure on the ligament, it becomes taut and pain is particularly acute. Pain usually decreases as the tissue warms up, but may easily return again after long periods of standing or weight bearing, physical activity, or after getting up after long periods of sitting down.
In most cases, plantar fasciitis does not require surgery or invasive procedures to stop pain and reverse the damage. Conservative treatments, like physical therapy, are usually all that is required. However, every person's body responds to plantar fasciitis treatment differently and recovery times may vary.
There are a number of plantar fasciitis causes. The plantar fascia ligament is like a rubber band and loosens and contracts with movement. It also absorbs significant weight and pressure. Because of this function, plantar fasciitis can easily occur from a number of reasons. Among the most common is an overload of physical activity or exercise. Athletes are particularly prone to plantar fasciitis and commonly suffer from it. Excessive running, jumping, or other activities can easily place repetitive or excessive stress on the tissue and lead to tears and inflammation, resulting in moderate to severe pain. Athletes who change or increase the difficulty of their exercise routines are also prone to overdoing it and causing damage.
Another common cause of plantar fasciitis is arthritis. Certain types of arthritis can cause inflammation to develop in tendons, resulting in plantar fasciitis. This cause is particularly common among elderly patients. Diabetes is also a factor that can contribute to further heel pain and damage, particularly among the elderly.
Among the most popular factors that contribute to plantar fasciitis is wearing incorrect shoes. In many cases, shoes either do not fit properly, or provide inadequate support or cushioning. While walking or exercising in improver shoes, weight distribution becomes impaired, and significantly stress can be added to the plantar fascia ligament.
Plantar fasciitis is also influenced by the mechanics of the foot. Having conditions such as flat feet, high arches, pronation, or having an abnormal gait (the way in which the foot hits the ground), can cause the fascia tissue to become overworked or stretched abnormally, resulting in tears and inflammation.
With so many causes of plantar fasciitis, there are many risk factors that suffers should be aware of. Needless to say, activity in sports and regular exercises can place significant stress on the heel and surrounding tissue. In addition, if you have high arches or flat feet, an orthotic shoe insert should be considered to counteract the stress caused by the abnormal mechanics of the foot. Age also plays a factor. As we age, tissue tends to become weaker and more prone to damage. In addition to these common risk factors, weight plays a huge role in damage to the heel. Since our heels absorb much of our body's pressure when we walk, being overweight can easily lead to damage and plantar fasciitis. Pregnancy can also add a few extra pounds. However, the hormonal changes in pregnant women can also cause ligaments and other tissue to relax and become more pliable, which could lead to plantar fasciitis if you are not careful. Those who are on their feet all day due to their occupation are also at risk. Finally, wearing high heeled show, boots, or other shoes that do not provide proper support around the heel and through the arch can easily lead to plantar fasciitis over time.
If you develop pain from plantar fasciitis, you may need see your doctor or podiatrist. It's important to seek medical advice before heel pain and damage becomes worse. If the condition is allowed to worsen, more serious or invasive forms of treatment may be required to stop pain. A visit to a doctor may reveal other conditions affecting the foot as well, such as Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, or other heel pain conditions. In rare cases surgery may be required to release tension on the plantar fascia, or to remove a portion of a heel spur. But again, most heel pain conditions can be resolved using conservative treatment such at physical therapy.
Again, prolonging treatment for plantar fasciitis will cause the condition to become worse. In some cases, a mild aching can evolve into a chronic problem. Another common problem is a change in your gait in order to counteract pain during movement. As a result of these involuntary changes in the foot's mechanics, knee, hip, or back pain can also develop.
Kelley Rankin, MPT |
|
