Chapter 7: Treating Plantar Fasciitis with Massage Therapy 1 CE Hour
By: April Pilz, LMT Learning objectives After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Identify the anatomical structures and functions of the plantar fascia. Recall the causes, pathology, and symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Course overview Humans are the only primates to walk completely upright and exclusively on two feet as mature adults. When you consider the muscular and skeletal systems of the human body as mechanical structures, few components rival the engineering marvel of the foot. The average surface area of the sole of an adult human foot is only 15.5 square inches, yet it is enough to sustain the full weight of the body when standing. However, our feet are often stuffed into shoes and taken for granted...until they hurt. When the feet hurt, it can be impossible to ignore. Pain in the feet can be caused by many conditions, which become more common with age. Further, that pain can alter the gait enough to lead to problems in the knees, hips, and spine as well as many of the muscular and connective tissue structures in between. Our feet are the first point of contact with the ground we walk on and are partly responsible for translating the vibration of that contact into the rest of the body. Caring for the feet is also a way of caring for the whole body; an instability in one can greatly affect the stability of the other. As massage therapists, we have a unique ability to provide care for the feet as part of the entire massage experience. Massaging the feet and, as we will learn, the lower leg, can help to undo some of the cruel things we do to our feet every day. Sometime in your massage therapy career, especially if you specialize in working with athletes, you will encounter a condition known as “plantar fasciitis.” While it is more common Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact health outcomes. Addressing What is the plantar fascia? The plantar fascia is the thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that supports the sole and the arch of the foot. It is largely responsible for the foot’s structural and mechanical integrity. It extends from the front of the heel bone (calcaneus) to the base of the toes (metatarsals) and functions as a “tension bridge” on the underside of the foot. It provides support and shock absorption when the foot is weight bearing and during contact with the ground in a walking or running gait. The plantar fascia is a unique soft tissue in that it has the structural properties of a tendon and the functional properties of a ligament; it is,
Examine methods of treating plantar fasciitis with massage therapy techniques. Discuss self-care practices to treat plantar fasciitis.
in athletes, particularly runners, anyone can be afflicted with plantar fasciitis. The Mayo Clinic estimates it to be one of the most common sources of heel pain, especially in people over 40 years old (Mayo Clinic, 2018). In this course, we will look at some common risk factors and lifestyle choices that may make certain clients more prone to this condition. Some clients will have recurring episodes and know what they are experiencing; others might present with sudden heel pain that they have never had before. Although there are several other conditions that can mimic plantar fasciitis, we will limit our discussion to treating plantar fasciitis that has already been diagnosed, as diagnosis is outside of our scope of practice as massage therapists. There are several ways we can help relieve patients’ pain as well as reduce the frequency and severity of future episodes. To effectively treat plantar fasciitis, we need to understand what the plantar fascia is, what it does and why it can become inflamed. There will be simple exercises throughout this course to help you gain a practical understanding of the plantar fascia. We will discuss common symptoms and common demographics for plantar fasciitis. We will also discuss massage therapy techniques for the lower leg, ankle, and foot to treat the inflammation and reduce pain. We can also provide some self-care methods to recommend to our clients to help them manage their symptoms in between sessions. implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING THE PLANTAR FASCIA
however, neither technically a tendon nor a ligament. It is made up of dense collagen fibers and has three distinct structural components. The medial plantar fascia is in the arch of the foot, creating the tension that lifts the arch. The central plantar fascia, or plantar aponeurosis, is the longest and the thickest part of the plantar fascia, providing the most stability to the underside of the foot. The lateral plantar fascia is on the outside aspect of the sole of the foot, which typically bears more weight than the inner aspect (or arch) of the foot when standing still. When the foot moves through its normal range of motion as the weight of the
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Book Code: MTX1324B
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