For some it may be a niggle, for others it can feel debilitating. Heel pain occurs all year round, but those warm summer months as we become more active and start wearing less supportive shoes (thongs or flip flops), summer can seem like peak heel pain season!
What is heel pain?
Heel pain is a very broad umbrella term for pain at the base of the heel that is clinically referred to as Plantar Heel Pain. Plantar Heel Pain can be described as a “heel spur” or a “bruised heel”, or more common technical terms such as “plantar fasciitis” or “plantar fasciopathy”.
Heel pain can be caused due to several different conditions such as:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Tibial nerve impingement
- Fat pad contusion
- Calcaneal stress fractures
My colleague said they had plantar fasciitis before, I think I may have that too. What is it?
The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that starts at the base of the heel and inserts into the base of the toes. The main role of the plantar fascia is to support the arch of the foot and allow shock absorption.
Plantar fasciitis is the degeneration of the plantar fascia tissue caused by repetitive microtears within the tissue itself, resulting in a secondary inflammatory process occurring.
I think I have plantar fasciitis!
Heel pain first thing in the morning when getting out of bed or after being seated for long periods of time are the most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Pain often gets better after walking for a few steps or after moving for a while.
Pain can be found at the bottom or inside part of the heel, or along the arch of the foot. Pain can occur when the big toe bends, or as a result of tightness of the Achilles tendon and calf muscle.
How can a Podiatrist help my plantar fasciitis?
Finding the solution means identifying the factors that have led to your heel pain, and this is where a Podiatrist can help. Understanding why your feet have broken down is important as plantar fasciitis occurs as a response to a change in load.
Conservative treatment – rest and activity modification. Changing you load can allow your symptoms to settle down on their own and let your body heal. Applying ice directly to the foot can also help to reduce your symptoms and reduce inflammation.
Stretching – a super easy and very cost-effective way to release tension to the bottom of the foot and back of the calf from the comfort of your own home.
Shoes – are super important in helping with daily pain! Don’t freak out if we grab your shoes and really test them out!
Orthotics – are a treatment tool that can offload the foot, address underlying biomechanical issues, and reduce peak plantar pressures.
Shockwave therapy – can promote and increase healing through creating an inflammatory process by using high energy shock waves.
Reference
Luffy, L., Grosel, J., Thomas, R. and So, E., 2018. Plantar fasciitis. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 31(1), pp.20-24.