SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- 03/07/08 --
The foot is the part of the body critical
for maintaining function, balance and coordination while walking. However,
thousands of Americans step out of bed every morning with an excruciating
throbbing sensation in the foot and heel, affecting their quality of life.
For many, plantar fasciitis has become a "real pain."
Plantar
fasciitis is one of the most frequently seen conditions by foot and
ankle orthopaedic surgeons. It is an overuse injury affecting a band of
tissue (fasciia), which supports the arch and extends from the heel to the
toes. Simply, it is a degenerative "wear and tear" of a tissue within the
foot.
"This is a very common problem in the adult population," said Steven Ross,
MD, clinical professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the
University of California, Irvine, and president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
(AOFAS). "This repetitive strain injury affects all walks of life,
people both very active and even sedentary, but may most frequently be seen
in middle-aged, overweight women."
The problem with plantar fasciitis is twofold:
-- Physicians cannot directly pinpoint what triggers the pain in the
first place.
-- Nor can they prescribe medication or surgically go in and bring the
fasciia "back to life" instantaneously.
"I have seen patients ranging from marathon runners to those who sit behind
a desk for 12 hours a day," Dr. Ross added. "We know the cause of the pain
may be attributed to repetitive strain, but the threshold for symptoms is
highly variable. This occurs in patients with both high and low arches and
is just not a predictable ailment, and there are not many things people can
do to prevent it."
Patients living with plantar fasciitis have several options, including but
not limited to:
-- Non-operative treatment - foot and toe exercises, massage techniques,
stretching, cortisone injections, etc.
-- Partial plantar fasciectomy - a surgical procedure that takes the
strain out of the fasciia so that it heals but transfers the strain to
other areas of the foot.
-- Shockwave therapy - machine-induced electrical therapy that stimulates
new tissue formation.
-- Gastrocnemius recession - a more controversial, newer procedure that
correlates the pain in the plantar fasciia to tightness in the calf. The
surgery releases the calf tightness, aiming to decrease the strain in the
fasciia.
"Each treatment option has its pros and cons," Dr. Ross noted. "But the
fact is that this problem just heals itself with time, exercise and
patience. We live in a 'now' society, where people want the instant fix.
In the case of plantar fasciitis, that is just not the best option."
According to Dr. Ross, approximately 90 percent of plantar fasciitis
patients get better with exercises or non-operative techniques over a
nine-month span.
Dr. Ross, along with Benedict DiGiovanni, MD, Troy Watson, MD, and John G.
Anderson, MD, will be discussing "Sore Step Relief: New Treatments for
Plantar Fasciitis" at a media briefing in the Moscone Convention Center to
be held at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
(AAOS) in San Francisco on Friday, March 7, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. This panel
will tackle the different options, myths and facts to help patients
navigate through this ever so common problem.
American
Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
About AAOS
To view this release online, go to:
http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2008/aaos030708_brief_sorestep/index.html
For more information, contact:
Lauren Pearson
C: (224) 374-8610
O: (847) 384-4031
Email Contact
Catherine Dolf
C: (847) 894-9112
O: (847) 384-4034
Email Contact
