Plantar Fasciitis or Inflammation of the Plantar Aponeurosis: As if this common medical condition, isn’t enough of problem, it’s very name is a complete misnomer. The commonly accepted name in the medical profession, Plantar Fasciitis, is actually an acute medical condition. It is an inflammation, but of the thin layer of connective tissue, between the skin and the deep structures of the foot. It does not involve the strong deep connective tissue ligament type structure, that spans the arch of the foot, described in anatomy texts as the Plantar Aponeurosis. Superficial dissection of the Sole of the foot reveals “the plantar aponeurosis, the medial and lateral parts of the plantar fascia.” Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy J. C. Boileau Grant #325
Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the Plantar Aponeurosis
What ever you want to call this condition, caused by the way we walk and stand, it presents in mild, moderate, and severe forms. The most common or mild presentation is more of a nuisance, controlled with over the counter anti-inflammatory medication. A significant percentage of the cases become a real problem with intense pain not controlled by injections or powerful prescription medication. The most severe cases are treated surgically, by detaching the Plantar Aponeurosis form the Calcaneous.
Unfortunately, even more important than the condition itself, is that it represents a prelude to many other bio-mechanical conditions, in the foot, knee, and back, that are often much more difficult for your physicians to treat. If you fail to address the way you walk and stand, even if all of the pain is resolved, more disabling gait related problems will follow. The patient become frustrated a one chronic and disabling pain after another appears, all aggravated by walking and standing.
Plantar fasciitis can be mild, moderate, or severely disabling.
Mild cases are controlled simply by rest anti-inflammatory med., good shoes or over the counter insoles, and most of all a decrease in walking and standing.
Moderate cases require more more aggressive treatment to relieve symptoms. These patients experience pain for months or years, even when activity is minimized. Prescription or over the counter orthotics are frequently recommended and often used by the patient’s during all weight bearing activity. This type of treatment along with regular use of anti-inflammatory med. and occasional cortisone injections, and decreased ambulatory activity, will resolve a significant percentage of these cases.
Severe cases of this common and occasionally disabling medical condition do not respond to the above treatments and frequently go on to Surgery, where the Plantar Aponeurosis is detached from its attachment to the Calcaneous. Aggressive treatment with higher levels of angular correction (Theta) found only in Theta-Orthotics WILL control foot function and STOP the CHRONIC PAIN.
Theta can change the way you walk and stand and keep you active without surgery. 
The amount of pain that is resolved is directly related to the amount of change that occurs in your gait. Traditional orthotics with no more than 22 degrees of rear-foot correction, can help in mild and moderate conditions. Only Theta orthotics with up to 37 degrees of rear-foot and 18 degrees of forefoot correction, can keep you active and stop all of the pain in patients with a sever case of Plantar Fasciitis.
