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Plantar Fasciitis

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Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

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Abstract

Plantar heel pain is a common foot disorder affecting people across all ages and activity levels. The most common etiology of plantar heel pain is plantar fasciitis, accounting for nearly 80% of cases.

Plantar fasciitis is characterized by pain on the inferomedial aspect of the calcaneus. The pain is usually worst when taking the first steps in the morning and when getting up after rest. In most cases, it slowly subsides with activity becoming a dull ache but worsens as the activity becomes prolonged. Plantar fasciitis is commonly referred to as an overuse injury caused by biomechanical dysfunctions and repetitive overload on the plantar fascia. Stress on the fascia leads to an acute inflammatory reaction, persistence of the mechanical stimulus over time leads to degenerative changes in the fascial tissue similar to those reported in chronic tendinopathies. Risk factors for plantar fasciitis in the general population are an increased BMI, decreased ankle dorsiflexion, occupations that involve prolonged standing and weight-bearing as well as age, with a peak in prevalence between 40 and 60 years. Plantar fasciitis is also a common pathology among athletes, especially those involved with sports that require running and jum**.

The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is mainly reliant on clinical examination and medical history. Instrumental exams can be helpful in the differential diagnosis with other causes of heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis is usually a self-limiting condition and conservative treatment yields favorable results in the overwhelming majority of patients. Surgical treatment represents a last resort in patients with plantar fasciitis and should be attempted only after 6–12 months of failed conservative treatment. Outcomes of plantar fasciitis are generally favorable, and a proper nonsurgical approach can lead to complete remission in almost 90% of patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Giulio Vittone, Nicola Carapella, Maristella F. Saccomanno & Giuseppe Milano

  2. Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy

    Maristella F. Saccomanno & Giuseppe Milano

Authors
  1. Giulio Vittone
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  2. Nicola Carapella
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  3. Maristella F. Saccomanno
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  4. Giuseppe Milano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giulio Vittone .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Clínica Espregueira, Porto, Portugal

    João Espregueira-Mendes

  2. Dept. Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden

    Jón Karlsson

  3. UPMC Freddie Fu SportsMed Ctr, Orth Surg, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Volker Musahl

  4. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Olufemi R. Ayeni

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden

    Jón Karlsson

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Centre Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. Niek van Dijk

  3. Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. Niek van Dijk

  4. Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. Niek van Dijk

  5. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Princess Royal Hospital, Telford Shropshire and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK

    Michael R. Carmont

  6. Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway

    Michael R. Carmont

  7. Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust and the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Princess Royal Hospital, Sheffield, UK

    Michael R. Carmont

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Vittone, G., Carapella, N., Saccomanno, M.F., Milano, G. (2024). Plantar Fasciitis. In: Espregueira-Mendes, J., Karlsson, J., Musahl, V., Ayeni, O.R. (eds) Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65430-6_259-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65430-6_259-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-65430-6

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