Plantar Fasciopathy, General Concepts, Shock Wave Treatment and Other Additional Therapeutic Considerations

Abstract

Plantar fasciopathy is the most common cause of heel pain. It is a primarily degenerative and mechanical overuse pathology. The plantar fascia fulfills important biomechanical functions in the foot, being its “windlass” mechanism, the most important function in this regard, allowing the foot to act as a single and efficient motor unit during gait. Its clinical and imaging diagnosis is fully defined, being Baxter’s nerve entrapment neuropathy, its most significant differential diagnosis. The elongation exercises constitute the basic treatment, being the extracorporeal shock wave therapy of significant utility, amplified in its effects by the association with the referred therapeutic exercises. Keywords: Plantar fasciitis, shock waves, fasciopathy.