from symptoms. Products you may already have available at your office, like Biofreeze, Polar Ice, or Deep Blue, might do the trick until ice can be applied at a later time. For any topical products you use, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for usage and safety. Additionally, be sure that any clients who will use it at home are instructed in the proper use of the product. Many of the topical analgesics are not recommended for use on broken skin. Contact with the eyes should always be avoided. Topical analgesics can also be used in combination with taping; however, advise the client to let the topical products dry onto the skin before applying the tape or the tape may not stick to the skin effectively. Using this type of over-the- counter product may provide your clients with enough relief to get them through their day. by providing information from our own observations, such as the shape of the feet, the tightness of their calf muscles, their posture while standing, or changes in their gait. Essentially, we must observe and treat the whole client, not just the feet. After you have been in practice as a massage therapist for a while, time and experience will help broaden your knowledge of plantar fasciitis. Working with clients who have recurring episodes will help you get a sense of what works and what does not, and how that can change on a case-by-case basis. This will help you build a working knowledge of how to treat this common condition. There is no substitute for experience. You will find that you gain a lot of experience in a handful of conditions that are common in whatever part of the population contains your niche market. The more you know, the more solutions you can offer and the more comprehensive care you can provide. Mayo Clinic. (2018). Plantar Fasciitis [Patient Care & Health Information] . Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-fasciitis/symptoms-causes/syc- 20354846 on 10/24/2018. Medical News Today Staff. (2016). What Is Obesity? [Medical News Today] . Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity on 10/27/2018. Mitchell, M. (2017). Your Shoes Can Cause You Heel Pain [The Nassau Guardian] . Retrieved from https://thenassauguardian.com/2017/10/10/shoes-can-cause-heel-pain/ on 10/30/2018. Physiopedia. (2018). Windlass Test . Retrieved from https://www.physio-pedia.com/ Windlass_test on 10/24/2018. Riddle, D.L. Et al (2003). Risk factors for Plantar fasciitis: a matched case-control study [NCBI abstract] . Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12728038 on 10/27/2018. Sharma, N. And Singh, G. (2010). Splinting and Stretching for Plantar Fasciitis [Lower Extremity Review] . Retrieved from https://lermagazine.com/article/splinting-and-stretching- for-plantar-fasciitis-pain on 11/9/2018.
are much easier to get on and off the foot, they may not provide the same kind of specific support that taping can offer. Before recommending taping or braces to a massage therapy client, research further into how these methods are used. Additionally, if you suffer from plantar fasciitis, it is wise to experiment on yourself first. If taping is done poorly, it can be ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst. As with any self-treatment recommendations you may give to your clients, be very careful about staying within your scope of practice. Refer the client to a physical therapist for more about taping if you are unsure of the method. Topical analgesics At times when applying ice to the plantar fascia is either impossible or inconvenient, topical analgesics that create a similar sensation to ice can also provide some temporary relief Conclusion As we can see from this examination of plantar fasciitis, it is often a multi-faceted problem that requires a multi- faceted treatment approach. We may often find that the foot pain a client experiences is about more than just what is going on in the feet. It is important to have a comprehensive knowledge about what the condition is, what other parts of the body may be involved, why it happens, who may be more susceptible to it, and what we can do about it to relieve our clients’ pain. Massage therapy alone may not offer a complete solution: It may be most beneficial when used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. As a practicing massage therapist, it is very likely that you will encounter cases of plantar fasciitis in the course of your career. Having a basic knowledge of what other treatments our clients may be receiving can help us function better as an integral part of the healing team. We may also have to take on the role of being educators for our clients in order to help them understand the full scope of the problem. This can be done American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (2018). Plantar Fascia Release [AOFAS Foot Care MD] . Retrieved from http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/treatments/Pages/Plantar- Fascia-Release.aspx on 11/2/2018. DeBusk, C. (2018). Treating Plantar Fasciitis: Recommendations for You and Your Clients [Massage Magazine] . Retrieved from https://www.massagemag.com/treating-plantar- fasciitis-with-massage-90894/ on 11/4/2018. Huang, Y.C. et al. (2004). The relationship between the flexible flatfoot and plantar fasciitis: ultrasonographic evaluation [Abstract, NCBI database] . Retrieved from https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15455545 on 10/28/2018. Kadakia, A. (2010). Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs [American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons] . Retrieved from https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/plantar- fasciitis-and-bone-spurs on 10/24/2018. Kane, J. (2015). Plantar Fasciitis [American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society] . Retrieved from http://www.aofas.org/PRC/conditions/Pages/Conditions/Plantar-Fasciitis.aspx on 10/26/2018. Lee, T. & Marx, B. (2018). Noninvasive, Multimodality Approach to Treating Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Study [The Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies] . Retrieved from https:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290117302054 on 11/7/2018. References
TREATING PLANTAR FASCIITIS WITH MASSAGE THERAPY Final Examination Questions Select the best answer for each question and mark your answers on the Final Examination Answer Sheet found on page 140, or complete your test online at EliteLearning.com/Book
68. The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is __________, particularly upon getting up in the morning. a. Pain at the front of the heel. b. Fatigue in the feet. c. Foot cramps. d. Pain at the Achilles tendon. 69. Anything less than __________ degrees is considered to be decreased or inhibited dorsiflexion.
66. The __________ plantar fascia is the longest and thickest part of the plantar fascia, providing the most stability to the underside of the foot. a. Lateral. b. Central. c. Medial. d. Distal. 67. The __________ helps to create the propulsion of your stride as you lift the heel and push off with the big toe.
a. 30. b. 20. c. 40. d. 10.
a. Windmill Action. b. Winding Effect. c. Windlass Mechanism. d. Windless Movement.
EliteLearning.com/Massage-Therapy
Book Code: MTX1324B
Page 122
Powered by FlippingBook