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Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and... Apr 2021Tarsal tunnel syndrome is paresthesia and pain in the foot and ankle caused by entrapment and compression of the tibial nerve within the fibro-osseous tarsal tunnel... (Review)
Review
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is paresthesia and pain in the foot and ankle caused by entrapment and compression of the tibial nerve within the fibro-osseous tarsal tunnel beneath the flexor retinaculum. The most helpful diagnostic criteria are a positive Tinel sign at the ankle and objective sensory loss along the distribution of the tibial nerve. Treatment is designed to reduce the compression of the nerve, and surgical nerve release is indicated with failure of conservative options. It is important to identify the causative factor of the nerve compression and eliminate it to obtain excellent results.
Topics: Aged; Analgesics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Fasciitis, Plantar; Female; Foot; Humans; Male; Medical History Taking; Middle Aged; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms; Neurologic Examination; Physical Therapy Modalities; Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
PubMed: 33745647
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpm.2020.12.001 -
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation... Feb 2016Foot and ankle injuries account for nearly one-third of running injuries. Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciopathy, and ankle sprains are 3 of the most common types of... (Review)
Review
Foot and ankle injuries account for nearly one-third of running injuries. Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciopathy, and ankle sprains are 3 of the most common types of injuries sustained during training. Other common injuries include other tendinopathies of the foot and ankle, bone stress injuries, nerve conditions including neuromas, and joint disease including osteoarthritis. This review provides an evidence-based framework for the evaluation and optimal management of these conditions to ensure safe return to running participation and reduce risk for future injury.
Topics: Ankle Injuries; Foot Injuries; Humans; Risk Factors; Running
PubMed: 26616180
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.08.007 -
Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.) Jul 2022The deep fascia is a three-dimensional continuum of connective tissue surrounding the bones, muscles, nerves and blood vessels throughout our body. Its importance in... (Review)
Review
The deep fascia is a three-dimensional continuum of connective tissue surrounding the bones, muscles, nerves and blood vessels throughout our body. Its importance in chronically debilitating conditions has recently been brought to light. This work investigates changes in these tissues in pathological settings. A state-of-the-art review was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar following a two-stage process. A first search was performed to identify main types of deep fasciae. A second search was performed to identify studies considering a deep fascia, common pathologies of this deep fascia and the associated alterations in tissue anatomy. We find that five main deep fasciae pathologies are chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain, Dupuytren's disease, plantar fasciitis and iliotibial band syndrome. The corresponding fasciae are respectively the thoracolumbar fascia, the cervical fascia, the palmar fascia, the plantar fascia and the iliotibial tract. Pathological fascia is characterized by increased tissue stiffness along with alterations in myofibroblast activity and the extra-cellular matrix, both in terms of collagen and Matrix Metalloproteases (MMP) levels. Innervation changes such as increased density and sensitization of nociceptive nerve fibers are observed. Additionally, markers of inflammation such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune cells are documented. Pain originating from the deep fascia likely results from a combination of increased nerve density, sensitization and chronic nociceptive stimulation, whether physical or chemical. The pathological fascia is characterized by changes in innervation, immunology and tissue contracture. Further investigation is required to best benefit both research opportunities and patient care.
Topics: Back Muscles; Chronic Pain; Connective Tissue; Dupuytren Contracture; Fascia Lata; Humans
PubMed: 35417568
DOI: 10.1002/ca.23882 -
American Family Physician Jan 2018The differential diagnosis of heel pain is extensive, but a mechanical etiology is the most common. The specific anatomic location of the pain can help guide diagnosis....
The differential diagnosis of heel pain is extensive, but a mechanical etiology is the most common. The specific anatomic location of the pain can help guide diagnosis. The most common diagnosis is plantar fasciitis, which leads to medial plantar heel pain, especially with the first weight-bearing steps after rest. Other causes of plantar heel pain include calcaneal stress fractures (progressively worsening pain after an increase in activity or change to a harder walking surface), nerve entrapment or neuroma (pain accompanied by burning, tingling, or numbness), heel pad syndrome (deep, bruise-like pain in the middle of the heel), and plantar warts. Achilles tendinopathy is a common cause of posterior heel pain; other tendinopathies result in pain localized to the insertion site of the affected tendon. Posterior heel pain can also be attributed to Haglund deformity (a prominence of the calcaneus that may lead to retrocalcaneal bursa inflammation) or Sever disease (calcaneal apophysitis common in children and adolescents). Medial midfoot heel pain, particularly with prolonged weight bearing, may be due to tarsal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by compression of the posterior tibial nerve. Sinus tarsi syndrome manifests as lateral midfoot heel pain and a feeling of instability, particularly with increased activity or walking on uneven surfaces.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Foot Diseases; Heel; Humans; Pain; Pain Management
PubMed: 29365222
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Special Operations Medicine... 2020Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a clinical term describing a nonrupture injury of the Achilles tendon where the patient presents with pain, swelling, and reduced...
Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a clinical term describing a nonrupture injury of the Achilles tendon where the patient presents with pain, swelling, and reduced performance and symptoms exacerbated by physical activity. About 52% of runners experience AT in their lifetime and in the United States military the rate of clinically diagnosed AT cases was 5/1000 person-yr in 2015. The pathophysiology can be viewed on a continuum proceeding from reactive tendinopathy where tenocytes proliferate, protein production increases, and the tendon thickens; to tendon disrepair in which tenocytes and protein production increase further and there is focal collagen fiber disruption; to degenerative tendinopathy involving cell death, large areas of collagen disorganization, and areas filled with vessels and nerves. Inflammation may be present, especially in the early phases. Some evidence suggests AT pain may be due to neovascularization and the ingrowth of new nerve fibers in association with this process. Prospective studies indicate that risk factors include female sex, black race, higher body mass index, prior tendinopathy or fracture, higher alcohol consumption, lower plantar flexion strength, greater weekly volume of running, more years of running, use of spiked or shock absorbing shoes, training in cold weather, use of oral contraceptives and/ or hormone replacement therapy, reduced or excessive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, and consumption of antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone class. At least 10 simple clinical tests are available for the diagnosis of AT, but based on accuracy and reproducibility, patient self-reports of morning stiffness and/or pain in the tendon area, pain on palpation of the tendon, and detection of Achilles tendon thickening appear to be the most useful. Both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful in assisting in diagnosis with MRI providing slightly better sensitivity and specificity. Conservative treatments that have been researched include: (1) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, (2) eccentric exercise, (3) stretching, (4) orthotics, (5) bracing, (6) glyceryl trinitrate patches, (7) injection therapies (corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma injections), (8) shock wave therapy, and (9) low-level laser therapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and corticosteroid injections may provide short-term relief but do not appear effective in the longer term. Eccentric exercise and shock wave therapies are treatments with the highest evidence- based effectiveness. Prevention strategies have not been well researched, but in specific populations balance training (soccer players) and shock-absorbing insoles (military recruits) may be effective. Ultrasound scans might be useful in predicting future AT occurrences.
Topics: Achilles Tendon; Humans; Mass Screening; Tendinopathy
PubMed: 32203618
DOI: 10.55460/QXTX-A72P -
Orthopedic Reviews 2022Posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (PTTS) is an entrapment neuropathy due to compression of the tibial nerve or one of its terminal branches within the tarsal tunnel in... (Review)
Review
Posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (PTTS) is an entrapment neuropathy due to compression of the tibial nerve or one of its terminal branches within the tarsal tunnel in the medial ankle. The tarsal tunnel is formed by the flexor retinaculum, while the floor is composed of the distal tibia, talus, and calcaneal bones. The tarsal tunnel contains a number of significant structures, including the tendons of 3 muscles as well as the posterior tibial artery, vein, and nerve. Focal compressive neuropathy of PTTS can originate from anything that physically restricts the volume of the tarsal tunnel. The variety of etiologies includes distinct movements of the foot, trauma, vascular disorders, soft tissue inflammation, diabetes mellitus, compression lesions, bony lesions, masses, lower extremity edema, and postoperative injury. Generally, compression of the posterior tibial nerve results in clinical findings consisting of numbness, burning, and painful paresthesia in the heel, medial ankle, and plantar surface of the foot. Diagnosis of PTTS can be made with the presence of a positive Tinel sign in combination with the physical symptoms of pain and numbness along the plantar and medial surfaces of the foot. Initially, patients are treated conservatively unless there are signs of muscle atrophy or motor nerve involvement. Conservative treatment includes activity modification, heat, cryotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, opioids, GABA analog medications, tricyclic antidepressants, vitamin B-complex supplements, physical therapy, and custom orthotics. If PTTS is recalcitrant to conservative treatment, standard open surgical decompression of the flexor retinaculum is indicated. In recent years, a number of alternative minimally invasive treatment options have been investigated, but these studies have small sample sizes or were conducted on cadaveric models.
PubMed: 35769658
DOI: 10.52965/001c.35444