HomeBlogMinimalism: An Option for Managing Plantar Fasciitis?
Minimalism: An Option for Managing Plantar Fasciitis?
The recent proliferation of articles and blogs advocating minimalist running as an effective technique for managing plantar fasciitis deserves an informed response. A critical analysis is necessary to be written by people with no actual experience in a clinical environment treating this ailment. They are generally speaking from personal experience, and the reader should consider this carefully when reading such advice.
Analyzing The Evidence
Plantar fasciitis affects runners regardless of the running style. Specifically, barefoot runners and minimalists experience this condition in proportions similar to displace even when there is no supporting evidence available.
Beliefs vs. Facts
Believing that simply running barefoot or practicing minimalism is sufficient as a clinical treatment is completely unfounded, and it is a position unsupported by the vast amount of scientific literature available on the subject. The credibility of such assertions should be taken seriously, however. They tend to unassailable popular wisdom when they remain unchallenged for extended periods of time.
Here are a few guidelines that readers can use when examining proclamations made by people who assign to themselves the status of expert:
• What is the quality of the evidence presented to support the claim? • Does this evidence, if it exists, actually refer to the existing, established treatments for plantar fasciitis? • Does the writer understand that muscle strength is not mentioned in any prominent scientific publications on the subject? • Why are most clinical practitioners not treating this condition with muscle strengthening exercises? • Why does minimalism show no signs of increasing the contractile strength of the plantar muscles involved in flexing the toes? • If minimalism actually relieves this condition, why do so many minimalist and barefoot runners still develop it? • Why would a non-runner want to practice barefoot running while experiencing the pain associated with this condition?
Scientific Studies Speak Volumes
The available scientific literature does not recognize muscle weakness as a significant facto achieving a status worthy of citation.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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