2 - Chronic Injuries to the Foot and Ankle Flashcards
What is one of the most common medical diagnoses associated with chronic plantar heel pain?
Plantar Fasciitis
- After a period of time following initial acute onset, similar to Achilles’ tendinopathy, what changes in the area?
- How does the name change?
- acute inflammatory cells are not found in the area of pain and symptoms
- the acute infammatory stage has ended and may now be more correctly termed a “plantar fasciosis”
Why is it difficult to use pathoanatomical explanation?
What does this mean exactly?
There are numerous other anatomical structures in the region of the plantar fascia.
I.E. difficult to directly correlate symptoms and pain with inflammation of the plantar fascia
What three instrinsic muscles have the same attachment as the plantar fascia? (3)
- Flexor digitorum brevis
- Abductor halluces
- Medial Head - quadratus plantae
What structure blends into the plantar fascia?
A layer of connective tissue formed by the fibers of the Achilles tendon at the insertion on the calcaneus continue over the posterior sides and blend with the PF.
What is the most common site of pain and symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
at the origin or “enthesis” of the central band of the plantar fascia
T/F: pain and symptoms of plantar fasciitis are reported in the mid-portion
True: on occasion pain and symptoms are reported in the mid-portion but the most common site is the origin or “enthesis”
Plantar heel pain can be liked to what two arthropathies?
seropositive and seronegative arthropathies
Seronegative arthropathies with associate plantar heel pain include (4):
- Reiter’s syndrome
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Systemic lupus erythmatosus
What risk factor has strong association with chronic plantar heel pain?
BMI in non-athletic popultion
What risk factors have weak association with chronic plantar heel pain? (5)
- Increased age
2) Decreased ankle dorsiflexion - Decreased 1st MTP extension
- Prolonged standing
- Pronated or supinated foot posture
What factors have no association with chronic plantar heel pain?
Non-athletic Population
-Height
Athletic Population
- Height
- Weight
- BMI
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
-Does pain increase or decrease with weight bearing after a period of non-weight bearing?
insidious onset of pain with weight bearing after period of non-weight bearing
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
-When is it most noticeable?
most noticable
- AM with 1st step
- after inactivity
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
-Does pain increase or decrease after activity?
pain often decreases with activity
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
-Do patient have an antalgic (painful) gait?
can or cannot have an antalgic gait
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
-What does history indicate in terms of activity levels?
history may indicate recent change in level of activity
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
-What do patients describe in terms of pain location?
sharp, localized pain under anteromedial aspect of plantar heel
Key history findings for chronic plantar heel pain:
T/F - complaints of paresthesia (pins and needs) is uncommon
true
Specific Exam Procedures:
Where do you palpate?
assess for pain beneath anteromedial aspect of heel and NOT directly over bottom
Specific Exam Procedures:
How do you assess plantar tissue restriction?
First MTP joint extension
Specific Exam Procedures:
What are the two positions to test Active talocrural joint ROM? What muscles are being tested?
- Knee extended (gastrocnemius)
2. Knee flexed (soleus)
Specific Exam Procedures:
T/F: the windless test has low level of sensitivity in diagnosis of plantar fasciitis?
True
Specific Exam Procedures:
What 4 tests are done to exam plantar fasciitis?
- Palpate anteromedial aspect of heel
- First MTP joint extension
- Active talocrural joint ROM
- Windless Test
What is the differential diagnosis?
- Referred pain secondary to L5-S1 radiculopathy
- Heel pad contusion
- Calcaneal bone bruise
- Calcaneal stress fracture
- Soft tissue, primary or metastatic bone tumors
- Heel spur
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sever Disease (calcaneal apophysitis)
What is a key question on history to tell if it is a L5-S1 radiculopathy?
previous bout of low back pain
T/F: Heel spurs are correlated with heel pain
false: no correlation to heel pain
- How are heel spurs confirmed?
- What is the incidence in non-symptomatic populations?
- Where are they most commonly located?
- confimed by x-ray
- ranges from 15-25%
- most commonly located above plantar fascia
What is tarsal tunnel syndrome and what nerve is primarily involved?
Entrapment neuropathy of tibial nerve in the region of flexor retinacula
What other nerves can also be entrapped in tarsal tunnel syndrome? (3)
- Medial calcaneal branches of tibial nerve
- Nerve to abductor hallucis
- Nerve to abductor hallucis
- Nerve to abductor digiti minimi
What symptoms are included with tarsal tunnel syndrome?
- Burning or tingling sensation
2. Pain in the medial heel region
How is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome assessed?
using the foot eversion and ankle dorsiflexion test (with or without tapping in triangle)
What is the typical patient in clinical scenario for Sever Disease?
Active sport-playing child between 10 and 12 years of age
- affects males more often than females
- can often occur in midst of growth spurt
Where does pain occur in Sever Disease?
over the apophyseal area of 1 or both heels
What motion is limited in patients with Sever Disease?
limited ankle dorsiflexion
When do patients with Sever Disease complain of antalgic or painful gait?
after activity