Fasciitis of the sole

　　The following reasons may cause plantar fasciitis:

　　1. Wearing high heels.

　　2. Weight gain.

　　3. An increase in the number of times walking and climbing stairs, as well as long-term standing.

　　In addition, congenital arch abnormalities of the foot, such as high arch or low arch patients, are more prone to plantar fasciitis than normal arch feet.

　　However, if you walk too much, the number of times the plantar fascia is pulled will gradually increase, and the symptoms will reappear. The tender point is often near the heel on the sole, and sometimes the tenderness is severe and persistent. The pain characteristics are pulsating, burning, and pricking.

　　The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain and discomfort in the heel.

　　Generally speaking, the pain is most pronounced when getting out of bed in the morning, which is mainly because after a night's rest, the plantar fascia is no longer bearing weight and is in a relatively shortened state. Therefore, when stepping on the ground in the morning, it will produce a larger and faster traction on the plantar fascia, thereby causing pain. However, after walking for a period of time, the plantar fascia becomes looser, and the symptoms will subside. But if you walk too much, the number of times the plantar fascia is pulled will gradually increase, and the symptoms will reappear. The most common symptom is pain and discomfort in the heel, and the tender point is often near the heel on the sole. Sometimes the tenderness is severe and persists. The pain is particularly noticeable upon waking up, and the pain sensation intensifies when walking excessively. Severe patients may even have pain when standing and resting. You can usually press a noticeable tender point near the heel on the sole. Sometimes the tenderness is severe and persistent. Physical examination can find that the most painful part of the patient is the anterior and medial aspect of the calcaneus. Passively pulling the patient's toes upwards or asking the patient to stand on the tip of their feet will cause heel pain. Sometimes an X-ray of the foot can show the formation of bone spurs at the calcaneus, but the degree of bone spurs has no absolute relationship with plantar fasciitis, so the diagnosis is mainly based on clinical symptoms, and ultrasound imaging can be supplemented. Generally speaking, plantar fasciitis is more common in women, the obese, and the elderly. The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in the heel when walking; there is a distinct tender point on the sole, and severe patients may also have pain when standing or resting.

　　For plantar fasciitis, if treated effectively in the early stage, most people can recover; if it is delayed too long and becomes chronic, it becomes more difficult to deal with. This is a very troublesome disease, but it is also a disease that can be prevented and cured. As long as we strengthen daily hygiene knowledge and the skills of stretching exercises, we can reduce the chance of plantar fasciitis occurring.

　　1. X-ray examination
　　It can show calcification of soft tissues in the heel or the formation of osteophytes in the anterior part of the calcaneus, that is, heel spurs. The discovery of heel spurs does not help in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.
　　2. Bone scan
　　It can show increased calcium uptake in the calcaneus.
　　3. Magnetic resonance imaging
　　It can manifest as thickening of the plantar fascia.

　　Patients with plantar fasciitis should first pay attention to the following points:
　　1) Do not wear shoes with thick fabric, and try to wear socks when wearing slippers;
　　(2) Take protective measures at the heel, such as padding some soft cotton, which can effectively reduce friction and alleviate pain;
　　(3) Often soak your feet in hot water to promote blood circulation in the feet, clean the foot hygiene, and also prevent infection and inflammation;
　　(4) Stretch your legs whenever possible, perform foot stamping movements, exercise the plantar fascia, and enhance tension.

　　1. Western medicine treatment

　　1. Alleviate pain

　　Rest and use physical therapy to improve the pain in the heel, including ultrashort wave, electrotherapy, and other methods.

　　2. Ice pack application

　　If the heel pain is caused by prolonged standing or exercise, ice packs can be applied to the heel for about 10 to 15 minutes. If there is no significant improvement, consider local steroid injection.

　　3. Insoles with arch support

　　Insoles with arch support can evenly distribute the pressure on the sole of the patient's foot, scan the three-dimensional image of the sole with a special 3D scanner, and carve the insoles with a digital carving machine. Such customized insoles can effectively reduce the tension on the plantar fascia when the lower limbs are bearing weight, thereby reducing the damage to the plantar fascia caused by repeated traction. The 'Pain Score Manual of the Ministry of Health' also notes: foot pads are an effective method for treating plantar fasciitis.

　　4. Stretching Exercises

　　(1) Lean against the wall and extend the upper arm to the height of the shoulder, pressing the wall with the palm of the hand. When bending one knee towards the wall, keep the other knee straight; while bending the knee slowly forward, try to keep the heel flat on the ground. When you feel the Achilles tendon and the arch of the foot are stretched, hold this position for 10 seconds, then relax and stand up straight. This exercise should be repeated 20 times on each heel.

　　(2) Lean forward against a table, chair, or countertop, slowly squat down, keeping both heels on the ground. When you feel the Achilles tendon and the arch of the foot are about to rise off the ground and the muscles are fully stretched, hold this position for 10 seconds, then stand up straight. Repeat 20 times.

　　(3) Stand on the lowest step of the stairs with the front foot balanced, slowly lower the heel, until you start to feel the calf muscles stretch, hold this position for 10 seconds, then stand up, and repeat the action 20 times.

　　Rest and use physical therapy to improve the pain of the heel, including ultrashort wave, electrotherapy, etc. If the heel pain is caused by long-standing or exercise, then an ice pack can be applied to the heel for about 10 minutes to 15 minutes. If there is no significant improvement, consider local injection of steroids.

　　5. Other Treatment Options:Physical therapy; oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs; local closure treatment; using traditional Chinese medicine patches on the skin over the heel can stimulate the nerve endings, reduce stimulation, and relieve pain; commonly used hot foot bath can relieve pain.

　　Second, Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

　　Some traditional Chinese medicine can be used for treatment, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, blood circulation, meridian unblocking, opening the orifices and bones, dispelling wind and cold. The traditional Chinese medicine Guizhen Huoluo patch is applied to the skin over the heel to stimulate the nerve endings, dilate the blood vessels, promote local blood circulation, improve the nutrition of surrounding tissues, and achieve the purpose of reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain. It is safe, economical, and quick to relieve the pain of heel spurs caused by fasciitis. The method of traditional Chinese medicine Wujin Gao, on the one hand, can repair damaged fascia, remove blood stasis, relieve muscle spasm, and on the other hand, nourish the kidney yin, regulate the physiological function, promote Qi and blood circulation, combine attack and supplementation, so it has the effect of treating both symptoms and root causes in the treatment of fasciitis.