It's another tool to treat my patients. Only those who were extremely obese needed surgery to alleviate their pain, the study says. Eickmeier presented her findings recently at the annual meeting of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons in New Orleans. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the tough band of tissue that runs from the sole of the foot to the base of the toes. The fascia support the arch and help put a spring in the step.
Athletes give the fascia a good workout and are especially prone to plantar fasciitis.
But middle-age folks, especially women, also are vulnerable to the condition, Eickmeier says. Changes in hormone levels with pregnancy and menopause tend to affect the ligaments of the foot, causing the arch to collapse and irritating the plantar fascia, she says. The result is sharp pain noticed with the first few steps in the morning, gradually replaced with a dull, throbbing pain as the day wears on. Typically, heel pain is treated with anti-inflammatory medicines, stretching, massage and the use of splints at night to maintain a constant stretch along the bottom of the foot. Nearly 95 percent of those who have this type pain find relief from these measures, Eickmeier says.