Heel pain, we’ve either experienced it or know of someone that has. It can be frustrating and have a significant effect on your day.
There are multiple causes of heel pain, however the most common cause is Plantar fasciitis. The plantar facia is a thick connective tissue which originates from your heel and fans out to connect to all 5 toes. The Plantar fascia helps to maintain shape, strength and flexibility of the foot. When the plantar facia is overloaded or injured it becomes inflamed and tender.
Some of the common causes of plantar fasciitis are:
- A sudden increase in physical activity or intensity of the activity
- Poor footwear
- Foot type or biomechanics of the foot
- Increased body weight
- Faulty training
- Trauma/injury to the heel
The symptoms of plantar fasciitis can vary depending on severity however, the most common signs are pain in the bottom the heel which can radiate into the arch. Pain is generally worst in the mornings and then eases off after a few minutes of walking.
So how do we treat plantar fasciitis?
Treatment will depend on the cause of the symptoms. A thorough investigation is done by a podiatrist to determine the cause of the pain. A treatment plan is then tailored accordingly to help reduce pain/strain and minimise risk of it reoccurring.
Treatment can include the following:
- Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) may be done initially to reduce pain.
- Footwear check
- Orthotics
- Strapping
- Stretches/strengthening.
- Shockwave therapy
- And much more.
While plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, there are other factors which can contribute to heel pain such as Achilles tendinopathy, posterior tibial tendinopathy, heel spurs, abductor hallucis tendinopathy, heel fractures etc. Thus, it is important to determine the cause of the pain.
Don’t suffer from heel pain, book an appointment with us today!
