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September 7, 2007 -- Sore, aching feet is a common complaint, but
when the pain becomes so severe that it affects the daily quality
of life, the Kimball Institute for Rehabilitation and Occupational
Health Services can help get you on the road to recovery.
“Plantar fasciitis, which is commonly referred to as heel
spur, is caused by a number of factors and is a common overuse injury
that is believed to affect hundreds of thousands of Americans,”
says David Terlizzi, director of Rehabilitation Services at Kimball
Medical Center and a physical therapist with 20 years of orthopedic
experience who has worked extensively with ankle and foot injuries.
“The plantar fascia is responsible for maintaining the arch
of your foot, and when this muscle pulls away from the bone, causing
heel pain with each step. The body may react by filling this space
with new bone, or a heel spur.”
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the long, flat ligament on the bottom
of the foot (plantar fascia) stretches irregularly and develops
small tears that cause the ligament to become inflamed. Plantar
fasciitis is the most common cause of severe heel pain.
Treatments to control pain and inflammation include iontophoresis
— a transdermal delivery system in which a substance bearing
a charge is propelled through the skin by a low electrical current.
Additionally, ultrasound and cryotherapy, which help decrease the
inflammation in the fascia, are treatment options for severe foot
pain.
Terlizzi, who also has expertise in soft tissue mobilization, stretching
techniques and therapeutic exercise, says that for people with chronic
foot pain, physical therapy is an important component in getting
their feet back on track.
“Deep tissue massage helps relieve tight plantar fascia, and
your therapist can teach you how to massage the fascia at home to
relieve pain,” he says. “Physical therapy also can correct
muscle imbalances. Muscle tightness in the lower limbs, particularly
the calves, can increase pressure on the fascia as you exercise,
and your physical therapist will show you what needs to be stretched
and how.”
Terlizzi also points to other common overuse injuries such as tarsal
tunnel syndrome — a condition caused by compression of the
tibial nerve, which runs down the back of the leg to the ankle —
and ankle sprains that can be treated through physical therapy.
Kimball’s Institute for Rehabilitative and Occupational Health
Services is conveniently located on the Kimball Campus at 500 River
Avenue in Lakewood.
Kimball’s expansion into the rehabilitative arena represents
a continuum of care that crosses a multitude of specialties including
post-stroke care; sports' injury rehabilitation, pediatric rehab
programs, and speech and language therapies. The new center
provides the community with convenient access to some of the region's
most specialized physicians, nurses, therapists and support staff.
Restoring one's ability to achieve their daily life routines is
the sole focus of each of the facility’s team members, according
to Terlizzi.
“Whether the goal of therapy is to relieve chronic pain, speak
clearly again, walk unassisted, or run a marathon, each program
is designed with the individual in mind,” he says. “The
institute has the capability to incorporate state-of-the-art balance
training, fiber optic assessment tools, simulated home-making areas,
and other exercise and diagnostic equipment in conjunction with
skilled therapists to promote healing and improve function. The
primary focus of each physical therapy program is, and will continue
to be, the prevention of further injury and the maintenance of good
health.”
Through customized care plans, Kimball’s team stands ready
to help every patient return to their optimal level of function
and good health. For more information on the Kimball Institute for
Rehabilitative and Occupational Health Services, call the Saint
Barnabas Health Care Link at 888-SBHS-123 (888-724-7123).
CONTACT: Kathleen Horan
Public Relations and Marketing
732-557-3909
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