One of the most common injuries in the world is plantar fasciitis. This is a painful condition suffered by thousands each year that can be treated with plantar fasciitis sandals or through surgery. If you are suffering from plantar fasciitis, you know how important it is to treat the condition as soon as possible. In order to take care of the condition properly, make sure you know what symptoms to look for so that you can determine if you are suffering from an injury or not. Also, if you decide to go and see a foot specialist, be sure you ask plenty of questions so you get the proper diagnosis.
The first grade of plantar plate tear is Grade I. This is usually a minor injury and is often caused by too much jumping or stress on the foot. The pain associated with this injury is normally very severe and is characterized by heel swelling. There may also be some pain while walking, although it is unlikely to be as severe as with a Grade II injury. With this injury there usually is no need for treatment since the condition has healed in most cases.
The second grade of plantar plate tear is Grade III. This is typically caused by an acute foot injury like a heel sprain or shin splint. When the pain is severe or if there is a significant amount of inflammation present, it is usually recommended that treatment be sought through surgery. With a Grade III injury, there will usually be limited mobility in the foot but there is still the possibility of correction using orthotics. The main benefit of healing through orthotics is that there will be less strain on the bones and cartilage that make recovery a little faster.
The third grade of plantar plate injury is Grade IV. This type of tear is usually more serious and is caused by a fracture or other trauma. Symptoms include pain and inflammation with walking and standing. This is the least severe but there is still the risk of complications such as internal bleeding and infection. It is important that immediate action be taken to avoid these complications.
The fourth and final grade of plantar plate tear is graded according to the length and severity. A severe acute injury causes a lot of pain and restricted movement while the after healing process makes the patient susceptible to further injuries. A chronic injury, however, does not cause as much pain or restriction but may heal over time. Depending on the severity of the acute injury, patients are advised to wear supportive footwear and to avoid strenuous activity until the symptoms have fully healed.
In addition to the four types of plantar plate tears described above, there is also what is known as the retrocalcaneal tear. It is classified as acute injury since it is a direct injury to the heel tendon. However, it can take more than one year before the foot becomes fully healed for this grade. Since this grade is a direct injury to the plantar fascia, it is a serious condition. Patients with a chronic injury will often undergo surgery to repair the damage to the fascia before the heel can even be comfortably worn.
The four grades of plantar plate tears described above are all degrees of severity. What makes each grade worse than the next is what caused the tear in the first place. For instance, a grade 1 tear is usually the result of a direct blow to the bottom of the heel bone. This can occur when running or jumping or during normal walking. On the other hand, a grade 3 tear is more likely to be the result of an unnatural cause. These include pregnancy, abnormal foot shape, and other structural deformities.
Although plantar plate tears are not a common occurrence, they are extremely painful and cumbersome to deal with. This is especially true if the tear involves the top most ligaments of the foot. Fortunately, modern medicine has developed several treatment options that can help patients with these types of injuries. While surgery remains the most effective treatment option for severe tears, patients with mild tears should begin physical therapy, rest, and icing treatments to reduce pain and swelling.