Basic Information and Treatment of New Foot Injuries

As if climate change and disaster-risk are not alarming enough, there seem to be a new kind of threat being discovered on a daily basis. Whether illnesses, disabilities, vaccines or chemical threats, science discover new human vulnerabilities on a regular basis. Take for instance the growing number of known physical injuries to muscle and joints that have been discovered in just the last five years. One such injury is the carpal tunnel syndrome, a hand-related strain-stress injury, is a relatively new phenomenon which develops from the use of a computer mouse. 

New Foot Injuries 

Aside from the carpal tunnel syndrome, there are also new injuries on the foot. The plantar fasciitis, a common and kind of recurring strain injury among people who uses their feet and legs heavily, is a recent discovery. In fact, a lot of what we know so far about the injury remains inconclusive and provisional as science is just beginning to understand the problem. 

What we do know so far is that the injury is caused by chronic irritation of the arch of the foot due to excessive strain and various other causes including bone spurs, flat feet, pronation and tight calves. As a form of foot injury, it is common among runners, hikers and even cashiers who stand for considerable amount of time. The injury is a repeating combination of foot, arch and heel pain. Recently, there have been more severe cases that were documented to have resulted to permanent disability. 

Misleading Information and Safe Treatments 

From there, there remains a lot to be known about the injury. As it is, there are a lot of misleading information about it remains floating around the internet and public media like claims that plantar fasciitis and tendonitis are the same. This has already been completely disproved by medical researches and many Singapore podiatrists in fact explain that tendonitis involve the inflammation of the tendons while plantar fasciitis does not involved such inflammation. Also tendonitis is triggered by collagen degeneration while plantar fasciitis is not.

Despite faulty information, there are today already a number of safe medications and therapies that have been proven viable in treating plantar fasciitis. Most of these treatments are meant to relieve pain in the heel improve strength and flexibility in the short run and more continuous therapy for a sustained period is expected to heal fascia ligaments and even correct foot problems such as flat footedness. 

In terms of medication, simple pain relievers like Ibuprofen like Advil and Motrin IB as well as Naproxen Sodium such as Aleve are safe options in order to alleviate pain. These medications are over-the counter drugs that may be bought even without the prescription of a podiatrist. But since they are pain relievers they are common household pain relievers, they do not treat cause of the problem nor correct any resulting disability. 

More corrective and healing treatments like flat feet treatment include a provides more extensive solutions and even more extensive set of physical therapies like stretching, using special devices can provide symptom relief and strengthen plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, leg muscles that assist ankles and knees. Arch support braces can also serve the same purpose by providing support for the stretching of the feet and distribute weight more evenly. Venues, treatment therapists, equipment are available in a growing number of podiatry clinics in Singapore.