Denver Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
With the recent injury to Denver Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning, a lot of people wonder what a plantar fascia is, and what Denver plantar fasciitis treatment facilities are available. To those who have never suffered from this condition, some people describe the pain in the foot as the equivalent to “standing on an ice pick.”
Cherry Creek Spine and Sport Clinic works with patients and professional athletes to identify sources for plantar fasciitis symptoms. We help to provide short-term pain relief and long term management by prescribing treatments and exercises to prevent recurrence. Peyton Manning reportedly was fighting plantar fasciitis for weeks before suffering further tearing during the Kansas City game. This injury could have been a season ending injury, but Peyton recovered after six weeks of rest and treatment.
Plantar fasciitis involves small tears in the plantar fascia—the flat band of tissue (ligament) that connects your heel bone to your toes—that results in immense pain in the heel. Professional athletes have been plagued by this ailment as well as those who work standing on their feet for long periods throughout the day.
The problem for Manning—and any athlete who gets plantar fasciitis during their sport’s season—is that there is limited treatment for the injury. You need to reduce the amount of re-injury and inflammation initially. This may include rest from the aggravating activity. You need to get off your feet. Since it’s a foot injury, any walking, running, planting your foot to throw passes, etc. risks aggravating or worsening the injury.
During your physical exam, we check for points of tenderness in your foot. The location of your pain often helps determine its cause. It can be caused by repetitive impact—common in runners, pronation, worn out shoes, being overweight, etc. If we identify the cause, we can help correct it and hopefully prevent it from recurring.
Medications for treating plantar fasciitis inflammation
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve) may temporarily ease the pain and inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis for short-term use.
Plantar Fasciitis Therapies
Some plantar fasciitis treatments may include:
Whole Body Cryotherapy: This is a high tech chamber you stand in for 2-½ minutes that helps to lower pain and inflammation by blowing cold air over the body. This causes a fight or flight response that produces endorphin hormones and helps in relief of pain.
Physical therapy. We develop exercises to stretch the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon and strengthen lower leg muscles to stabilize the ankle and heel. We can also teach you how to do taping to support the bottom of your foot.
Active Release Technique. For chronic conditions, we may recommend A.R.T. soft tissue manual therapies to break up scar tissue and adhesions that form with this type of injury. By releasing the fibrotic adhesions the scar tissue forms, we are able to restore normal soft tissue range of motion and decrease the likelihood of a flare up or repetitive injury.
Orthotics. We may also recommend off-the-shelf heel cups, cushions or custom-fitted arch supports (orthotics) to help distribute pressure to your feet more evenly.
Cherry Creek Spine and Sport supports many professional athletes and the general public with their plantar fasciitis treatments—please call us at (720) 974-0392 to discuss your needs.