When to Use Cold vs. Heat

When to Use Cold vs. Heat
Alternating Cold & Hot Treatments It’s best not to alternate cold and hot treatments, as this will only result in one treatment counteracting the other. The purpose of applying cold to an injury is to bring down inflammation and swelling and help control the pain. Applying cold causes the blood vessels to restrict. The purpose of applying ...

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy — Does It Really Work?

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy -- Does It Really Work?
What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy? Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) involves the use of a handheld device to deliver shockwaves to the injured part of your foot. This is a common treatment for chronic Plantar Fasciitis and other soft tissue injuries that won’t seem to heal through conservative treatments. ESWT is a non-invasive treatment that is often ...

More About Heel Spurs

More About Heel Spurs
What is a Heel Spur? A Heel Spur is a bony growth located on the underside of the heel bone. Heel Spurs are often associated with Plantar Fasciitis, but can occur without Plantar Fasciitis being present. Heel Spurs are often mistaken for Plantar Fasciitis because the signs and symptoms are so similar. This page explains the difference ...

Foot Enthesopathy

Foot Enthesopathy
What is Enthesopathy? Enthesopathy occurs when there is inflammation at the connection site between soft tissue and bone. Enthesopathy is also known as Enthesitis. Enthesopathy can affect parts of the body other than the foot, such as the knee, ankle, spine and hip. Causes Enthesopathy of the foot is often associated with Plantar Fasciitis, as ...

Heel Pain

Heel Pain
Heel Pain is usually felt underneath the heel or at the back of the heel. Heel Pain can be the result of an acute injury, but can also be caused by repetitive activities and overuse that puts a lot of strain on the heel. Causes Determining the cause of your Heel Pain can be difficult, as ...

Location of Foot Pain

Location of Foot Pain
Sometimes the location of our foot pain can help us determine what injury or condition is causing that pain. Here are the locations of the foot where the pain may be felt, and some of the corresponding injuries and conditions (some of which may be felt in more than one area): Top of Foot Pain in the ...

How Blood Flow Helps Foot Tendonitis

How Blood Flow Helps Foot Tendonitis
No matter which type of foot tendonitis you have (Plantar Fasciitis, Extensor Tendonitis, Peroneal Tendonitis, etc.), blood flow can help heal your damaged tissues. Blood flow is what the body needs to naturally heal itself. Our blood contains oxygen and nutrients, which are some of the essential ingredients for healing. When our soft tissue is ...

How to Avoid Plantar Fasciitis Surgery

How to Avoid Plantar Fasciitis Surgery
Why You Want to Avoid Surgery When it comes to any injury, surgery should always be a last resort. Non-invasive treatment methods are always preferred. Surgery is sometimes thought to be a “quick fix” that will get you back to your usual activities faster than the conservative method, but this simply isn’t true. Surgery comes ...

Plantar Fasciitis Causes

Plantar Fasciitis Causes
Repetitive Strain Repeated injury to the Plantar Fascia over time can lead to the development of Plantar Fasciitis. This can be caused by activities such as running or playing sports. It can also be from spending all day on your feet at work. If these activities are causing small tears every time you do them, ...

Plantar Fasciitis — Differential Diagnosis

Plantar Fasciitis -- Differential Diagnosis
You may think you have Plantar Fasciitis because you have foot pain, but you may actually have one of these conditions: Heel Spurs Heel Spurs are often confused with Plantar Fasciitis as the pain is located in the same area — right below the heel of the foot. The symptoms of Heel Spurs are also ...