In an article on nydailynews.com on December 05, 2013 by Frank Isola, it was revealed that former Raptor, Marcus Camby, was suffering from plantar fasciitis of the left foot.  He was hoping that he would only be off for “a couple of days”.  He said, “(I am receiving) treatment and then we’ll see how I am in a couple of days”.

It sounds like Camby’s problems are not over yet, because, according to bucketsoverbroadway.com on April 07, 2013, Camby was still experiencing plantar fasciitis pain with the left foot and was doubtful to play on Sunday afternoon April 7, in Oklahoma City.

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition affecting the plantar fascia which is a broad ligament at the sole of the foot.  It often causes extreme heel pain, particularly with the first few steps in the morning and with the first few steps following rest.  If not treated properly it can become a chronic condition, leaving the sufferer to wonder when his or her heel pain will get better.

In his Toronto podiatry clinic, Toronto podiatrist Sheldon Nadal D.P.M. uses Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, and Achilles Tendonitis .  Approximately 80% of patients will experience anywhere from 50-100% improvement following one of these treatments.  We also use made to measure Custom Foot Orthotics to improve the mechanics of the foot to help prevent recurrence.

If you, or someone you care about suffer from heel pain due to plantar fasciitis, please call out Toronto podiatry Office at 416-486-9917 to find out how you can get relief. 

According to sports.yahoo.com Albert Pujols is playing baseball in spite of continuous pain in his heel.

According to orangecounty.com, Pujols has had a history of Heel  Pain, due to Plantar Fasciitis in 2004, 2005, and 2006, but never went on the disabled list because of this condition. 

Pujols had surgery on his right knee on October of 2013.  The good news is that the knee is not bothering him.  The bad news is his heel is bothering him.

Pujols continues to play despite the pain in his heel.  He admits that his is limping because of the problem.

The plantar fascia is a broad ligament that is found at the plantar surface or sole of the foot.  It runs from the heel to the toes and helps to support the arch.  If the foot isn’t balanced and supported properly, excessive stress will cause irritation of the plantar fascia, usually close to its insertion at the heel bone or calcaneus.

When this happens, patients complain of pain at the first few steps in the morning.  It is also painful with the first few steps following rest.  The keys to the treatment are to relieve the excessive strain on the plantar fascia and to relieve the inflammation or irritation.

The strain on the plantar fascia can be relieved with Custom Foot Orthotics, Orthopedic Insoles, Foot Beds, or Arch Supports.  You can try off-the-shelf arch supports at the drug store.  However, if this does not do the trick, you may need made to measure orthotics.  This Toronto podiatrist will be happy to help you with orthotics in Toronto.

The other important thing is to relieve the inflammation and irritation.  This can be done with anti-inflammatory pills.  However, many people do not like to take the pills because they can cause problems with your stomach, heart or blood pressure.

Another treatment would be cortisone injection.  However these can be painful and can weaken the connective tissue. 

In my office, I offer an alternative.   We use a low level Laser Pain Treatment and a soundwave treatment called radial wave or pressure wave to relieve the inflammation if the problem has been present for a short period of time.

For someone who has a chronic condition like Pujols, I would recommend a treatment we use in my Toronto podiatry clinic called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis .  This procedure is performed under local anesthetic.  It is a strong soundwave.  In my experience, approximately 80% of people with chronic plantar fasciitis will experience anywhere from a 50-100% improvement following one treatment.

In spite of plantar fasciitis, Pujols was able to hit two home runs in a game on April 06, 2013.  However, I do not recommend that patients continue to run through plantar fasciitis.  Excessive stress has a way of turning mild plantar fasciitis into a more painful, chronic problem.

When the Angels come to Toronto to play the Blue Jays, Albert is welcome to come to my Toronto foot clinic to find out how extra corporeal shockwave can relieve his heel pain.

                                                                                                                                      Albert Pujol's bat and heel are on fire

If you, or anyone you care about suffer from heel pain due to plantar fasciitis, please call my office at        416-486-9917 so that we can get you on the road to recovery.

A few weeks ago I  blogged about pro baseball player Logan Forsythe, who had been diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis .. It was hoped that two injections, combined with three or four days of rest would allow his pain to be manageable.  Unfortunately, according to sandiego.padres.mlb.com, Forsythe suffered a relapse following a pre-season game on March 26, 2013.  The foot is now worse than before and he will be out for a minimum of six weeks.  Apparently, he will be in a walking boot for the first three weeks.

The plantar fascia is a broad ligament that runs along the ball of the foot from the heel bone or calcaneus to the front of the foot near the toes.  It helps support the arch.

If the foot is not balanced and supported properly during strenuous activities, such as baseball, the plantar fascia can be stretched, strained, or irritated.  This often occurs close to the heel bone. Patients with this problem can experience severe pain with the first few steps in the morning and with the first few steps following rest.  Unfortunately, if the faulty mechanics are not addressed, it is often not enough just to have a cortisone injection.  In many cases it is necessary for orthotics to be made to help improve the mechanics and to relieve the pull of the plantar fascia.  The other issue is that, while cortisone injections can relieve the inflammation, they also weaken the connective tissue.  Oral antiinflammatory medication, which can also relieve inflammation, can cause problems with the stomach, blood pressure or heart.

This Toronto podiatrist  would treat someone like Forsythe with sound waves and laser, which do not have the side effects of cortisone and pills.

In a case like this I would consider using a soundwave called extracorporeal shockwave in my Toronto foot clinic.  This is a high intensity soundwave that is administered under local anesthetic.   In my experience more than 85% of people with chronic plantar fascia will experience anywhere from a 50-100% improvement following one treatment.  I would then make orthotics to wear in the sport shoes to help prevent recurrence.

If you, or someone you care about suffer from Heel Spur Pain, or Plantar Fasciitis please call my Toronto podiatry office at 416 486 9917 to find out how to end the misery of plantar fasciitis.

It is too bad that the Padres will not be coming to Toronto this season to play the Blue Jays.  I would like to meet Mr. Forsythe. 

According to nbcsports.com, on March 10, 2013, San Diego Padres second baseman, Logan Forsythe, has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.  He was given a second injection and hopes that the injection, combined with three to four days of rest, will allow the heel or arch pain to be manageable during the 2013 regular season.

Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis occurs when the broad ligament that connects the heel to the toes at the bottom, or plantar surface, of the arch becomes irritated or strained due to excessive use.  It can also be related to a mechanical imbalance. 

Classically, the heel or the arch hurts with the first few steps in the morning.  It gets somewhat better with a limited amount of walking.  If you are on your feet for a considerable length of time or run, and then you sit for a while, it is often painful with the first few steps after rest.

It is important to correct the mechanical imbalance that caused the problem.  This can be done by making made to measure orthotics to wear in your shoes.  They will help to support the foot and relieve the pull of the plantar fascia.

The other thing that is necessary is to relieve the inflammation or irritation, which is often near the heel where the plantar fascia inserts onto the calcaneus or heel bone. This can be done with a cortisone injection but injections can be painful and repeated cortisone injections can cause thinning of the connective tissues.  Another alternative is to take oral anti-inflammatory medications such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Naprosyn. However, this type of medication is not good for someone with stomach problems, high blood pressure or heart disease.

In my opinion, a  safer alternative is to use soundwaves to relieve the problem. If the condition has been present for a relatively short period of time such as days, weeks, or a few months, a lower energy form of soundwave called radial wave or pressure wave can be used.  Anaesthetic is not required. Most people need from three to five treatments.  They are performed on a weekly basis.  In my office I also combine the soundwave or radial wave with a low energy Laser Pain Treatment.  I find that this can be quite effective for acute plantar heel pain or arch pain due to acute plantar fasciitis (plantar fasciitis that has been present for a short period of time).

If you have chronic plantar fasciitis, that is, plantar fasciitis that has been present for several months or even years, I use a stronger modality called extracorporeal shockwave.  This is performed with local anesthetic.  I have found that approximately 75% of people with chronic plantar fasciitis will experience anywhere from 50-100% improvement following one treatment.

If you or someone you care about suffer from heel or arch pain due to plantar fasciitis, please contact me in at my Toronto podiatry office at 416-486-9917.  I will be happy to examine your foot and tell you the best course of treatment to get you walking more comfortably.

And if Logan Forsythe doesn’t get better with his cortisone injection, please tell him to give me a call. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, NBA center Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls was almost certain to miss his third straight game last night against the Indiana Pacers, due to plantar fasciitis.  He hopes to return on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.

Noah missed eighteen games when a similar injury affected his left foot during the 2009-10 season.  He eventually required Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is the broad ligament found at the plantar surface or sole of the foot.  It connects the heel bone to the toe bones and supports the arch.  If the foot is not supported properly it can become aggravated or irritated.  This can cause plantar fasciitis. A heel spur may be found on X-Ray but the spur is not what causes the pain, so it is generally not necessary to surgically remove it.

Classically the heel or arch hurts with the first few steps in the morning.  It tends to improve somewhat with a short amount of walking.  If you are on your feet a lot during the day and then you sit down for a while, it is often quite painful when you start walking again.  Often it does not hurt during sport but it hurts afterward.

If you have plantar fasciitis in  Toronto  you should seek help as soon as possible.  Do not allow it to become a chronic problem.

In order to heel the condition, it is important to relieve the excessive pull of the plantar fascia and relieve the irritation.

You can relieve the pull of the plantar fascia by improving the support for the foot.  This may involve replacing your running shoes.  You may also benefit from arch supports which can be purchased at the drug store.  If this is not helpful, your Toronto podiatrist can make made to measure Custom Foot Orthotics to wear in your shoes.  They will improve the mechanics of your foot and relieve the pull of the plantar fascia.

It is also important to relieve the inflammation.  This can be done with anti-inflammatory pills.  However, this is not a good idea if you have stomach problems, high blood pressure, or heart problems.

Another alternative is a cortisone injection.  If the correct area is targeted with the cortisone, this can relieve inflammation.  However, many people do not like  cortisone injections because they can weaken the connective tissue and can be painful.

In my podiatry office, I offer a sound wave treatment called radial wave or pressure wave. I often combine this with a super pulsed Laser Treatment.  I have found this combination to be quite effective for acute plantar fasciitis, that is, plantar fasciitis that has been present for only weeks or a few months.

If you have chronic plantar fasciitis, which has been present for more than several months, you may benefit from the same treatment that Joakim Noah had, namely Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. I also perform this treatment in my Toronto foot clinic. 

If you, or someone you care about, suffer from heel or arch pain caused by plantar fasciitis, or any other foot pain, please call my Toronto podiatry office at 416-486-9917. My staff will set up a private consultation for you and I will do everything I can to get you pain free as soon as possible.