Plantar Fasciitis

Essay by samjor0Junior High, 8th gradeA+, April 2006

download word file, 2 pages 0.0

Every year, about one percent of the world's population seeks medical help for Plantar Fasciitis (Collin, 1999). Plantar Fasciitis is a medical condition. In this paper you will learn about the causes, effects, solutions to Plantar Fasciitis, and how to prevent yourself from getting Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar Fasciitis is a foot condition where the fascia in your foot is inflamed or wears away (www.mayoclinic.com/printvoker, 1999). Some people who have or had Plantar Fasciitis say it feels like stepping on a knife. Another name for Plantar Fasciitis can also be called heel spurs. Some cases of heel spurs are more sever than other cases.

There are many causes of Plantar Fasciitis, here are some of them: 1) sudden increase of weight, because the fascia doesn't have time to comply with the sudden increase; 2) a sudden increase of physical activity; 3) Plantar Fasciitis also affects more adults than children. Doctors aren't sure why, but people with diabetes have a history of having Plantar Fasciitis (www.mayoclinic.com/printvoker,

1999).

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis can be mild, but some are severe. If you seem to have numbness in your foot or calves the case is mild. Another symptom of mild Plantar Fasciitis is a small sharp pain in your foot. If the case is severe it will feel like walking on knives. If your case of Plantar Fasciitis is severe you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

To prevent Plantar Fasciitis from happening to you do the following: stretch out your calves and feet every morning and every night, or before and after physical activities; steadily train for a sport or activity gradually so your feet have time to adjust and maintain a healthy weight.

If you just recently felt a pain in your foot and think it might be Plantar Fasciitis keep reading to find out what you should do. You can also take care of the Plantar Fasciitis by buying sole inserts for your shoes. Applying ice to your feet four to five times a day can eliminate the pain. You can also tape your feet to keep your Plantar Fasciitis from hurting.

If your case of Plantar Fasciitis is severe you will have to seek medical help. One medical treatment is to bathe your feet in a whirl pool. Some doctors believe the best way to get rid of Plantar Fasciitis is to wear a cast on your foot and calves, even though it takes longer to heal than most other treatments. If your case is very bad you may have to have an injection into your foot to replace the fascia.

Plantar Fasciitis affects many athletes here is a small list who have or had Plantar Fasciitis. National Basketball Association (NBA) stars Shaquille O'Neal, Wally Szczerbiak, Steve Francis, and Todd Murphy all have problems with Plantar Fasciitis. Also legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio had problems with Plantar Fasciitis. Many of these athletes have had surgery for their Plantar Fasciitis problems. Surgery for Plantar Fasciitis is successful eighty percent of the time (Termaine, 1998).

Plantar Fasciitis affects people in our world every day. Medical researchers are still finding methods to cure Plantar Fasciitis all the time, and other information about Plantar Fasciitis. Having read my paper you know the symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis and what the possible treatments available. Someday in the future scientists may find other cures that are faster and more successful.