Heel Pain
Heel pain is a very common problem that can affect many different areas of your foot and ankle. It can be both frustrating and debilitating, affecting your ability to walk, stand, and enjoy everyday activities. You might experience pain, soreness or tenderness anywhere in your heel, but the most common areas are underneath it or the back of it. Heel pain may materialize as a sharp, stabbing pain in the morning, or a constant ache after a long day. There are many different health conditions that can cause heel pain, which is why it is vital to see a Chiropodist to determine the best way your heel pain should be treated.
At Collective Foot and Orthotic Clinic, we specialize in diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of heel pain with effective, tailored treatments. We use advanced techniques to relieve discomfort, improve mobility, and prevent future issues.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that occurs when there is tension on the plantar fascia, the tight band of connective tissue under your feet. When this tension is excessive, it creates tears in the fascia, causing the fascial band to become irritated and inflamed.
Those suffering from plantar fasciitis experience inflammation around the bottom of the foot and a stabbing pain in the heel and arch. It is usually particularly painful in the morning or after prolonged sitting or standing, however, it can also be aggravated by other factors. If left untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to the development of heel spurs, an inability to walk comfortably, and severe chronic pain.
Plantar Fasciitis: Causes and Prevention
There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the development and progression of plantar fasciitis. The way a person walks (their gait) and having either very high arches or flat feet are innate factors that may cause the development of plantar fasciitis. Other causes include:
Being on your feet all day, especially if you are on hard floors like concrete
Wearing improper, non-supportive footwear
Exercising without stretching or warming up
Gaining excessive weight quickly
Preventing plantar fasciitis is as simple as avoiding walking too much on hard surfaces, wearing proper footwear, investing in custom orthotics, and performing exercises like the stretching of the fascia. These acts can help prevent heel pain from developing or progressing.
Plantar Fasciitis: Treatment
Plantar fasciitis treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition. Some patients require longer, more hands-on treatment while others are able to treat their condition more quickly at home. The most common arch and heel pain treatment options are:
Anti-inflammatory medication
Hot and cold therapy/stretching exercises
Custom foot orthotics
Wearing proper footwear
Laser/ultrasound therapeutic modalities, such as low level laser or ultrasound
Night splints to stretch the plantar fascia
Cortisone injections
Once diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, it’s important to reduce walking as much as possible. If the condition gets aggravated or progresses too much, treatment options become less effective, and it can lead to chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities.
Achille’s Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is a common foot complaint that we see in patients. It is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon at its site of insertion into the heel. It is often characterized by patients as pain on the posterior aspect of your heel and is different from plantar fascia pain, that is characterized by pain on the bottom of your heel.
While Achilles tendinitis can affect many different types of patients of any age group, it is most commonly seen in active people and athletes. About 24% of athletes will develop an Achilles tendon injury in their lifetimes.
Some common signs and symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include:
Heel and ankle pain that is worse after exercising or climbing stairs/going uphill. Pain may also be worse in the morning and improve throughout the day
Stiffness or tenderness in your tendon
Leg weakness
Swelling around your Achilles tendon
Achille’s Tendonitis: Causes and Prevention
Achilles tendonitis typically develops as a result of overuse of your Achilles tendon. This causes swelling, irritation and inflammation. It’s usually not related to a specific injury — it happens because of stressing your tendon repeatedly. Because it’s difficult to avoid using your Achilles tendon, your body doesn’t have time to repair the injured tissue. Usually, it is seen in patients with who have tight calf muscles and have overworked the muscle during bouts of strenuous activity.
While it may not be possible to prevent Achilles tendonitis, you can take measures to reduce your risk:
Increase the duration and intensity level of your exercise regimen gradually
Avoid activities that place excessive stress on your tendons, such as hill running
While exercising, wear shoes that provide adequate cushioning for your heel and have firm arch support to help reduce the tension in the Achilles tendon
Take the time to stretch your calf muscles and Achilles tendon in the morning, before exercise and after exercise to maintain flexibility
Strengthen your calf muscles to enable the calf and Achilles tendon to better handle the stresses they encounter with activity and exercise
Achille’s Tendonitis: Treatment
The best way to treat Achilles tendonitis is by resting it initially while applying ice over the inflamed area. If the pain is excessive, then pain medications can be used to help. Prolonged pain may require custom orthotics and ultrasound imaging to rule out other injuries or a possible tendon rupture.
The most common treatment options are:
Anti-inflammatory medication
Hot and cold therapy/stretching exercises
Custom foot orthotics
Investing in proper footwear
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