Condition is one of the main causes of foot pain
It is not uncommon to hear people close to us complain of foot pain when waking up, getting up or walking. Often, we think it might be something common and we don’t pay due attention to the complaint. However, as with everything in our body, we need to be very attentive to the signs, to facilitate the diagnosis as soon as possible. The symptoms mentioned above, for example, may indicate that the person is suffering from plantar fasciitis. The condition is one of the main complaints of foot pain. It is characterized by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a fibrous and inelastic tissue that covers the entire musculature of the sole of the foot, going from the heel bone to the fingers. “It is estimated that between 3.6% and 7% of the population has plantar fasciitis, which affects men and women equally. And it is something that usually appears around 40 to 60 years of age”, explains the orthopedist, specialist in foot and ankle, Dr. Bruno Lee. Among the main causes for its appearance are:
- Obesity (BMI over 30)
- Pes cavus, flat or with abnormal gait patterns
- After systemic inflammatory diseases
- Use of heels for long periods of time
- Standing for a long time during the day
- Physical activities that overload the feet (walking, running, ballet, jumping)
The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in the heel, as if it were a stitch. This one is usually intense when waking up, improving when walking and getting worse when there is prolonged rest. “When experiencing this type of discomfort, it is necessary to go to the doctor to have it identified. Most of the time, the diagnosis of fasciitis is clinical and other tests may be requested, such as X-rays, MRI and bone scintigraphy, for differential diagnosis, that is, to exclude other possibilities for the symptoms”, says the doctor. When diagnosed, treatment may include rest with an ice pack in place, physiotherapy, use of special insoles, anti-inflammatory drugs to control pain, use of splints during the night and, if the problem was caused by obesity, it is recommended to weight loss. “Surgical intervention is also a treatment option. However, more than 80% of cases do not need the procedure, being resolved with less invasive measures”, says Dr. Lee. According to the doctor, still, plantar fasciitis is a condition that can be prevented, with some simple measures. These include weight control, stretching the muscles of the lower body, strengthening muscles, having adequate guidance when practicing physical activities and paying attention to choosing the best footwear. *Dr. Bruno Lee graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at USP, in São Paulo, and specialized in caring for patients with pathologies of the foot and ankle. Having practiced numerous sports activities during his life, the doctor integrates his technical knowledge with sports, uniting anatomical, pathological and functional knowledge to achieve the best result in the treatment. In recent years, he has continually sought to improve minimally invasive techniques for treating foot pathologies.