Tendonitis on the sole of the foot
definition
Does one suffer from one Tendinitis in the area of the sole of the foot this corresponds in most cases to an inflammation of the tendon plate, one speaks of a so-called "Plantar fasciitis". The tendon plate is located on the underside of the foot and stabilizes the arch of the foot under load. You can imagine it as a woven carpet made up of many individual tendons. The inflammation can affect the entire tendon plate or just parts of it. This results in different degrees of severity of the disease .
causes
The causes of tendinitis on the sole of the foot are diverse. On the one hand, the foot, which only has a relatively small contact surface, has to carry the entire body weight of the person every day. In addition, there is the respective stress from regular sporting activity, which particularly stresses the small tendons of the foot. This phenomenon can often be observed in runners who are preparing for very long distances such as a marathon. Even in untrained beginners running, exercise-related tendinitis can occur if the training is started or increased too quickly and the body has no chance to get used to the increasing overtime.
An important risk factor in the development of tendinitis in the foot is an existing one in addition to the training habits Foot malposition. For example go in Flat- or Buckle foot are associated with a foot arch that does not function optimally, which leads to increased stress on both tendons and muscles and joints. Incorrect strain on the muscles of the rest of the leg (calf and / or thigh muscles), which shorten over time and thus increase the tension on the tendon plate of the foot, can result in tendinitis of the tendon plate.
Last but not least, wrong or bad shoes (especially jogging shoes) should be considered when it comes to the causes of tendinitis of the sole of the foot. For example, if a shoe is worn for too long, it loses its resilient properties, which is tantamount to increasing stress on the tendons of the foot and can thus promote inflammation.
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Symptoms
Classic signs of tendinitis of the sole of the foot are indefinite pain in the area of the sole of the footthat do not seem to have a clear place of origin.
The others too Signs of inflammation (Reddening of the skin, overheating and impaired functionality) can be present parallel to the pain. Because of the inflammation, rolling the foot while walking is particularly painful, which is why it is often Gait pattern of the affected person appears changed - some patients hobble because they intuitively relieve stress, others walk “unevenly”.
Since athletes are often affected by inflammation of the tendons of the soles of the feet, another typical criterion is the change in pain under training conditions. Many sufferers complain about a so-called "Starting pain“At the beginning of your training, which should be distinguished from a significant improvement in pain after a long jog. In the rest phase between two training sessions, on the other hand, the pain is worst. If a patient already complains of stress pain, i.e. persistent pain that does not improve during training, then he has probably continued training for far too long. It could be a severe inflammation that is already well advanced and urgently requires a break from training and adequate treatment!
So every runner should pay close attention to the above symptoms and take their body seriously. Continuing to train despite inflammation or other injuries can lead to permanent and irreversible damage.
Inflammation of the tendons on the inner sole of the foot
The Inside foot, especially the inside of the heel, is a common complaint localization of the typical tendinitis of the sole of the foot (Plantar fasciitis).
In addition, other possible explanations for inflammation-related pain in the inner sole of the foot can be additional small bones, which are not found in everyone. These so-called Sesame bones are integrated into tendons and use a kind of leverage to increase the tension of the tendon. Depending on their exact location, they can rub against tendons or muscles and thus trigger inflammation. Orthopedic surgeons can easily recognize such sesame bones in an X-ray. Normally, it is enough to protect the affected area in order to achieve pain relief. However, if those small bones cause severe discomfort, surgical removal can be considered. In this case, the attending physician will advise in detail beforehand.
Tendonitis on the sole of the foot
It occurs much less often on outer edge of the sole of the foot tendinitis. A common trigger for this is a previous sprain of the ligaments, which then leads to an inflammation of the tendons of the calf muscles.
But a so-called is also possible Stress fracture as a cause of pain in the outer sole of the foot, which is wrongly interpreted as inflammation. Ambitious athletes in particular can cause a fatigue fracture of the outer metatarsal bone under permanent overload, which is also noticeable through pain on the outside of the foot. Often, just touching the spot in peace is uncomfortable. A doctor should therefore be consulted even faster than with pain on the inside of the foot if the outside of the foot is involved and an X-ray should be made to be on the safe side.
diagnosis
The finding of tendinitis of the sole of the foot is a so-called clinical diagnosis. A detailed discussion with the patient and an attentive physical examination are usually sufficient for the doctor to identify what the patient is suffering from. A typical sign during the examination that suggests plantar fasciitis is, for example, the trigger (provocation) of pain. Pressure on the inside of the heel can trigger pain, which then radiates along the entire foot. If the findings are uncertain or if bone involvement is suspected, an X-ray and / or computed tomography examination of the foot is also used.
Therapy / treatment
The top priority in the treatment of tendinitis is and remains absolute calm. Until the tendons have completely recovered, no sport should be done and heavy everyday stress should also be avoided. Sports that do not place as much stress on the feet as jogging can possibly be carried out after consultation with the attending physician. For example, cycling or swimming training are ideal.
When cycling, however, you should pay attention to the pressure that is exerted on the underside of the foot. If this pressure is too strong or if pain is triggered, the strain should be interrupted again immediately and avoided until final recovery. In addition to strict rest, regular cooling of the inflamed area also helps against pain and reduces the inflammation. Quark wraps are an option as well as ice packs or moist and cold compresses. In some cases, massage can relax the irritated tissue.
Read also: Home remedies for tendinitis
Other patients find massages very uncomfortable, the latter should rather avoid them. If there is no improvement even after some time and after observing the principles explained above, a doctor should be consulted. He is responsible for injections Cortisone to put in the sole of the foot and thus contain the inflammation and / or anti-inflammatory drugs (for example Ibuprofen or Diclofenac) to prescribe. These tablets have both analgesic and acute inflammation effects.
However, all medication should only be taken after consulting an experienced doctor. It is not a permanent solution to the underlying problem. If tendinitis occurs frequently in the area of the sole of the foot, it is also advisable to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon, who can assess the position of the foot and carry out a shoe check. Insoles may be necessary or a changed training load should be considered. Physiotherapy care by a physiotherapist is also an option in some cases. Various muscles can be built up to protect against future overload. Ultimately, ambitious hobby runners in particular often benefit from a special gait or running school in which special running techniques (such as the Heel run) can be practiced.
Homeopathic Therapy
As a supplement to the protection and cooling, which are advisable for any kind of inflammation, some established homeopathic medicines are also available. They can be used for the therapy of tendinitis in general and are also suitable for use in plantar fasciitis. In the normal case, the dose - unless otherwise specified - is 2x5 globules daily. If stiffness and immobility as a result of the inflammation predominate, the use of Causticum or Rhus toxicodendron (Poison ivy) possible. In the case of severe redness and swelling with burning pain should apply Apis mellifica can be used. If the one-sided load or overload is in the foreground Arnica montana (Real arnica, Bergwohlverleih) find use.
Duration of the tendinitis
A tendinitis of the sole of the foot almost always heals completely, so the prognosis is quite good. Nevertheless, the healing process can be very tedious. Pronounced tendinitis of the foot can take up to 6 months to heal completely. After such a long break from injury, you should of course not immediately start the previous training workload again, in order to keep the risk of the symptoms becoming chronic as much as possible. Since the muscles as well as the tendons and joints are almost untrained after this period of time, everyone affected becomes "Get back on boardr “and should slowly build up and increase his training.
