One of the most common forms of foot pain in adults is that
of chronic heel pain. The heel bone gets too much pressure and stress as it is
the largest bone in the foot, and then it is also the first part of the foot
that contacts the ground while any activity like walking or running. Typically,
as the foot absorbs the weight of the body during any activity, the arch area
joint locking mechanism provides as much as 80% of the stability to the foot.
The remaining 20% of biomechanical stability is provided by the plantar fascia
and muscles, ligaments and tendons. Any abnormality tends to cause inflammation
of the structures attached to the heel bone that results in heel pain.
According to health experts,
eighty percent (80%) of heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, with 10% of
the world population at the risk of being afflicted by it over a lifetime. A
considerable number of patients are treated for plantar fasciitis each year in
Melbourne. It is more common in women than men especially those aged 40-60
years.
Plantar fasciitis is a chronic
heel pain that is a result of small tears and inflammation in the wide band of
tendons and ligaments that stretch from the heel to the ball of the foot. This
band is the arch of our foot that is known to be a shock absorber for the body.
Some of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis include poor footwear,
sedentary lifestyles, obesity and sports injuries. Symptoms of plantar
fasciitis are a pain at the bottom of the heel on weight bearing, particularly
early in the morning, and after a prolonged period of rest.
There have been many conservative
treatment options for plantar fasciitis that include rest, stretching,
strengthening, massage, physical therapy, orthotics and shoe inserts, etc. and
it is usually after these conservative treatments fail that podiatrists treat
the condition through surgical release or removal of the plantar fascia.
However, the conservative approaches are usually less effective whereas the
plantar fascia surgery has significant complications.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is
the solution to this problem as it offers a quick, painless, non-invasive,
side-effect free alternative to relieve the debilitating pain of plantar
fasciitis. On being applied to injuries and lesions, low-level laser light has
resulted in stimulating healing and reducing the pain by accelerating the
speed, quality, and strength of tissue repair and reduction in inflammation as
well.
Low-level laser
therapy in Melbourne has found to be particularly effective over other
standard treatments for relieving pain and other symptoms associated with
chronic problems and injuries. Sole Motion Podiatry is a Laser Pain Clinic in Point
Cook that is known to be incredibly impactful in treating the complete
system of targeted muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, bone, nerve,
and dermal tissues of the feet. They believe that excellent foot care gives
their patients the freedom to live the life that they love and that is the
driving force behind everything they do.
