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With summer quickly approaching, don’t let heel pain slow you down

With summer quickly approaching, don’t let heel pain slow you down

Patients are seeking non-surgical treatment options for chronic plantar fasciitis at Performance Ortho & Integrated Medicine!

With summer weather quickly headed our way it is not uncommon for us to begin new fitness and exercise routines. A common ailment that can cause problems with new activity is the plantar fascia in our feet. This can be very problematic and challenging to treat in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis issues. Thanks to Tenex™ Health, non-invasive solutions have been designed to restore hope to patients suffering from this condition. If you are experiencing pain in the base of your foot while walking you may be suffering from a condition known as Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar Fascia Explained.

The plantar fascia consists of thick fibrous bands of tendon on the base of our foot that travels from our heel to the toes and is primarily responsible for supporting the arch of the foot as well as shock absorption.  It is not uncommon for this to be a pain generator in the foot and is considered by many experts to be the most common cause of pain in the heel. This structure  commonly causes heel pain when small tears develop in the fascia which leads to both inflammation and scar tissue formation. The formation of scar tissue will then further create adhesions in the fascia which decreases the extensibility of the tissue. Symptoms that you may experience include stabbing pain with the first few steps of walking as the fascia begins to stretch itself back out, which will slowly decrease overtime.  With chronic cases, symptoms will return after prolonged periods of sitting and standing and is commonly seen in runners and individuals with worn or improper footwear. With the summer weather, the use of sandals and flip-flops usually will cause an increase in plantar fasciitis.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis?

This structure was designed to operate as a bowstring which works as both a shock absorber and arch support. As we walk we begin to stretch the fascia and with repetitive over use the fascia can quickly become inflamed and lead to micro tears in the tendon. Biomechanics also play a large part in the way the fascia function. Improper mechanics of the foot increases the amount of abnormal strain and stress placed on the tendon which in turn increases the chances of injury. Repetitive activities known to cause plantar fasciitis are those that require walking and or standing for prolonged periods of time.

Conventional Treatments

Historically, treatments that involved the plantar fascia range from both conservative to surgical with traditional treatments consisting of physical therapy and chiropractic care. These treatments typical will consist of taping and bracing/splinting as well as  joint manipulation. Other things that help this condition typically involved rest, changes in shoes and modification of exercise routines. The medical intervention for plantar fasciitis injuries usually involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, platelet rich plasma therapy, and steroidal injections into the fascia. The greatest amount of relief is seen when an integrated approach to health care is taken which typically involves a 6-week course of care. Until recently, if a patient failed conservation treatments they would sometimes undergo surgical procedures to release the plantar fascia. Patient who are looking for non-invasive procedure are turning towards Tenex Health TX®, with excellent results!

Tenex Therapy Explained

Tenex therapy is state of the art technology that is designed for chronic unresponsive tendon and plantar fasciitis pain. It is minimally invasive technology that is used to specifically to extract damaged tendon tissue and scar tissue formation.  Tenex will only remove the damaged tissue and patients enjoy minimal discomfort, getting you better, faster.

Tenex health systems uses ultrasound imaging which assists the doctor in identifying the area of damaged tissue.  A micro incision is made at the location of injury. This tool known as the TX MicroTip® is essentially the size of a toothpick.  The damaged tissue is then blasted with high frequency ultrasound to remove the injured tissue.  Some advantages of Tenex therapy over traditional surgical approaches include increased recovery, no sutures or stitches, and quick return to normal activity.

Our tendinitis relief program is an interdisciplinary team approach, which may also include regenerative medicine and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in addition to Tenex Health TX®. After the Tenex procedure some patients will undergo a thorough regime of physical therapy for 4-8 weeks depending on the severity of their condition.

If you are suffering from stubborn plantar fascia or heel pain, have any questions or, or if you know someone that may be suffering, please feel free to contact one of our patient care coordinators at 908-754-1960 or you may contact us online.

About the Authors:

Joseph Mejia D.O., F.A.A.P.M.& R, is a graduate of University of Michigan and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. Dr. Mejia received his Fellowship Training in Interventional Pain Management from University of Medicine and Dentistry. He has advanced training in Regenerative Medicine and is the Medical Director and Partner of Performance Ortho.

Vincent J. Diana D.C. is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College. He is a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician with licenses held in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Dr. Diana is a Chiropractic Physician at Performance Ortho.

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