Plantar Fasciitis

Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI) refer to damage of muscular or skeletal systems, which is usually due to strenuous activity. In other words, MSIs are any injury that affects the bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, or tendons resulting in pain. 

Plantar Fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. The plantar fascia is a thick, web-like ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. It acts as a shock absorber and supports the arch of your foot, helping you walk.

Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common orthopedic complaints. Your plantar fascia ligaments experience a lot of wear and tear in your daily life. Too much pressure on your feet can damage or tear the ligaments. The plantar fascia becomes inflamed, and the inflammation causes heel pain and stiffness.

The cause of plantar fasciitis discomfort is still unclear. A 2003 study suggested that the condition may involve degeneration rather than inflammation of the plantar fascia. Because fasciitis means “inflammation of a fascia,” a better name may be plantar fasciitis.

Injuries to the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues of the body are known as musculoskeletal injuries. Overuse injuries, repetitive stress injuries, or movement injuries are all alternative terminologies used for Musculoskeletal Injuries. MSIs can result in pain and disorders in any part of the body.

The main cause of it is the vulnerability of the body to variables that induce exhaustion to surpass the body's recovery mechanism. 

Causes of MSIs can vary from work-related ergonomic stresses to the body or accidental assaults. These injuries can affect any individual from a quite young age to older adults.

Here are some of the common examples:

• Repetitive movement

• Fall

• Running/Jumping  

• Improper body posture

• Sprain/strain

• Blunt trauma 

The major complaint of those with Plantar Fasciitis is pain at the bottom of the heel or sometimes at the bottom midfoot area. It usually affects just one foot, but it can affect both feet.

Pain from Plantar Fasciitis develops gradually over time. The pain can be dull or sharp. Some people feel a burning or ache on the bottom of the foot extending outward from the heel.

The pain is usually worse in the morning when you take your first steps out of bed or if you’ve been sitting or lying down for a while. Climbing stairs can be very difficult due to heel stiffness.

After prolonged activity, the pain can flare up due to increased irritation or inflammation. People with Plantar Fasciitis don’t usually feel pain during the activity, but rather just after stopping.

There are two types of plantar fasciitis — acute and chronic. 

• Acute: The condition can be triggered by a specific injury; this is also called an acute type.  

• Chronic: There is also a chronic type also known as the classic case of plantar fasciitis, which becomes worse over time.

In adults, Plantar Fasciitis is a source of heel discomfort. Pain which is intense in the first couple of steps made in the early morning is a characteristic symptom of plantar fasciitis.  In some other cases, it is described as the pain which starts at the initiation of activity and reduces as the body is warmed up. This pain can also get worse by the end of the day. Chronic inflammation and collagen degeneration at the plantar fascia are the frequent sources of discomfort in plantar fasciitis. Recurrent microtears of the plantar fascia promote deterioration because the body's capacity to heal itself gets hampered. 

The cause of Plantar Fasciitis is due to congenital deformities of the foot or extra load placed on the lower extremity, resulting in twisting and torsional movements.

Treatment options for Plantar Fasciitis are:

• Strengthening and stretching plantar fascia (considered first-line treatment)

• NSAIDs medicine and corticosteroid injections

• Splits, arches, and shoe modification

• Surgical release of the plantar fascia

Unfortunately, the time needed for resolving the problem is 6-18 months, which may be frustrating for both patients and doctors. Rest was rated as the most effective therapy by 25% of participants with plantar fasciitis in studies.

The Musculoskeletal System is the most widespread structure in the body with the ability to regenerate. Musculoskeletal tissues get damaged through trauma, prolonged inactivity, and surgical repair, resulting in the formation of thick fibrotic tissues. All of these damages result in limiting musculoskeletal functions. According to the tissue type, stem cells can be totipotent, pluripotent, or multipotent.

The satellite Stem Cell has been the focus for most musculoskeletal treatments so far. Stem Cells work by either getting fused with injured tissue cells, their cells, or staying inactive. Satellite Stem Cells are mononuclear multipotent and found in between plasma membranes and basal lamina. When these cells get activated, they develop into myoblasts and proliferate in response to any musculoskeletal damage.

The problem of Stem Cell Treatments' immunological effects has failed to keep up with our understanding of underlying molecular genetics. Many variables may have a role in the vulnerability of transplanted cells to immunological rejection by the host.

However immune response issue of the stem cells can be assessed with the following three questions:

• Patient's immunity

• Immune tolerance of the administered location

• Specificities of the stem cells used 

Stem Cell Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis is much more efficient than traditional treatment procedures. It might reduce or even eliminate the need for frequent medication treatment and provide long-lasting advantages – improving patient satisfaction while cutting healthcare costs. 

Stem Cells withdrawn from bone marrow are placed into the centrifugation machine, which gives five times stronger Stem Cells in concentrated form than they usually are. After getting, the concentrated SCs can be injected into the plantar fascia or the affected foot after getting the concentrated stem cells. The SCs differentiate into a range of different cells allowing them to repair the dead cells in the injected region.

One of the most significant medical achievements is the introduction of Stem Cell Treatment. It is known to ease symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis.

Stem Cell Therapy and Exosomes provide an efficient opportunity for treating Musculoskeletal disorders. playing a vital role in the prevention and progression of different diseases. Cartilage destruction can be one of the most common results of musculoskeletal disorders.

Osteoclast differentiation and bone-forming cell proliferation is another significant result of MSCs-Exosomes Therapy. Different studies proved that Exosomes could help in protection against acute tubular injuries. These cells mediate the interaction between cells and stimulate cell proliferation to control several diseases and traumas. For instance, these cells are involved (directly) in the transfer of microRNAs to affect the signal transduction pathways into the targeted cells. This process can be used as a microRNA cell therapy for most age-related musculoskeletal diseases and disorders.

Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to cure degenerative disorders and injured tissue repair. Despite the therapeutic promise of stem cell treatments, there are still hazards that have yet to be identified as:

• Status of cell differentiation 

• Proliferation capacity of Stem Cells

• Location and route of administration

• Long-term survival of injected Stem Cells

• In the event of irreparable tissue loss, the potential for simultaneous tissue regeneration

The risks connected with Stem Cell Treatment are presently minimal and uncommon. When patients exhibit adverse effects, cautious care is usually recommended. Over-the-counter drugs can help reduce negative effects in cases of infections and inflammation. Pre-operative care and patient records are very important in controlling and reducing risk factors.

Stem Cells Therapy has a great potential to be more effective for treating Musculoskeletal Injuries than previous methods and carries less risk. SCT has a great potential to emerge as one solution to all the human body problems, but it will need some time and patience.  

All the treatment options for Musculoskeletal Injuries have been temporary options for just treating the symptoms. With the invention of Stem Cells Replacement Therapy, hopes and prognosis of the disease treatment have been raised. It has the potential to be more effective than previous methods and also carries less risk.