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Do you really have plantar fasciitis?
According to one 2003 estimate, more than two million Americans are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis every year, and over ten percent of the population will experience the condition at some point in their lives. But while you often hear the term "plantar fasciitis" (at least if you're a runner going to a doctor's office), it may not be the best term to describe that pain you have in your foot.
Let's take a look at the evidence, and then you can decide for yourself if you have it or not.
Any kind of "itis" in medicine means that you have inflammation. Inflammation has four classic symptoms: pain, swelling, redness and heat. Also, it generally (though not always) goes away after a week or two. Inflammation is the body's response to some sort of irritation or injury, so once the injury is taken care of the inflammation fades away on its own. In cases where inflammation persists more than a couple of weeks, it usually means that whatever underlying problem you have isn't being fixed.
On the other hand, any kind of "osis" in medicine means that there is a degeneration of tissue. So the term "plantar fasciosis" indicates an actual degeneration of the plantar fascia (which is a length of connective tissue on the bottom of your foot) itself, not a secondary problem like inflammation. If you've had pain for more than a couple of weeks, and icing and aspirin aren't helping, it's very likely that you have plantar fasciosis, not plantar fasciitis. If so, you're going to need a much more aggressive program to get better. One that address the deterioration in your connective tissue, not just the secondary symptoms.
Is there a fast and easy way to tell which one you have? Fortunately, there is. Remember the four classic symptoms of inflammation? Take a look at the bottom of your feet and see if there is excessive redness or swelling or heat. (I'm sure you've got pain or you wouldn't be reading this.) If you've been told that you have plantar fasciitis but don't have these classic symptoms, how is it that inflammation is the problem? Also, if you've been taking NSAIDs and using ice and so on to reduce inflammation, but you still have pain, maybe it's because inflammation isn't really the problem. Ask your doctor and see what s/he says.
Of course, it is possible to have both fasciitis and fasciosis at the same time. But keep in mind that these conditions are not the same. They will need to be addressed with separate remedies for you to get better. If you think that you have plantar fasciosis, there are some specific exercises that you can do to help yourself get better.
Alex Nordach has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 30 years and is an expert in the area of fascia and tendon structures. For cutting-edge information that isn't available anywhere else on the internet, click through to the Target Plantar Fasciitis blog at => www.targetplantarfasciitis.com 
More articles by Alex Nordach
Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Alex-Nordach-19823/plantar-fasciitis-195737.php
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