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When your feet hurt, your entire body hurts. Heel pain has many causes and is generally the result of faulty walking abnormalities that place too much stress on the heel bone and soft tissues that attach to it. This stress may also be the result of injury, or a bruise that might have occurred while walking, running or from wearing poorly constructed footwear. Like all bones, your heel bone is subject to outside influences that can affect its ability to keep us on our feet. Heel pain can occur in the front, back, or bottom of the heel and can also be a way to alert us that we need to seek medical attention. With many complaints that contribute to heel pain, it is important to take all necessary precautions in avoiding heel pain. What is Plantar Fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia is strained over time beyond normal extension which then causes the soft tissue fibers of the fascia to tear or stretch at points along its length. This stress can lead to inflammation, pain and a possibility of a bone spur where it attaches to the heel bone. Your inflammation may become further aggravated by shoes that lack appropriate support, especially in the arch area, and by chronic irritation that can accompany an athletic lifestyle. Pain often caused by plantar fasciitis:
* Develops gradually
* Affects just one foot, although it can occur in both feet at the same time
* Is triggered by the first few steps after awakening, although it can be triggered by long periods of standing or getting up from a seated position.
* Feels like a stab in the heel of your foot Resting may provide temporary relief for your pain, but it may not eliminate your pain altogether. After a night's sleep, you may experience a sudden elongation of the fascia band. When it stretches, it pulls on your heel, causing your pain to reoccur. As you begin to walk, your pain may lessen or disappear, but it may just be a false sense of relief. Your pain may often return after resting or extensive walking. Available Treatment Options Approximately 90 percent of the people who have plantar fasciitis recover with conservative treatments in just a few months. Stretching and strengthening exercises, or use of specialized devices, may provide symptom relief. These exercises include:
* Physical Therapy A physical therapist can instruct you in a series of exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon to strengthen lower leg muscles, which stabilize your ankle and heel.
* Night Splints Your podiatrist may recommend wearing a splint that stretches your calf and the arch of your foot while you sleep.
* Orthotics Your chiropodist/podiatrist may prescribe custom-orthotics to help distribute pressure t your feet more evenly. When more-conservative measures are not working, your chiropodist/podiatrist in Scarborough may recommend: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy or surgery. Contact your podiatrist/chiropodist in Scarborough today if you suffer from heel pain. Your chiropodist will be able to properly diagnose and treat your heel pain, as well as provide prevention methods for you to follow to further prevent the development of heel pain.
Vincent Ku, DPodM, Scarborough podiatrist/chiropodist, of Morningside Foot & Ankle Clinic is a solo practitioner dedicated to providing comfort and balance for his patients feet. Vincent Ku, DPodM, chiropodist/podiatrist in Scarborough, completed his graduate studies in Podiatric Medicine at the Michener Institute.
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