|
As the cold months are slowly coming to an end, many of us are wishing it was warmer, but are your feet prepared to enjoy the warmth as well? Every mile that you walk puts 60 tons of stress on each foot. Your feet can handle a heavy load, but too much stress pushes them over their limits. When you pound your feet on hard surfaces playing sports or wear shoes that irritate sensitive tissues, you may develop heel pain, which is the most common problem affecting the foot an ankle. When it is warm out, no one wants to sit inside because they are suffering from heel pain, but when you continue to walk on your sore heel, it will only get worse and could lead to more problems. The best solution to enjoying a day out in the sun is to take extra precautions while performing your everyday activities. Heel pain can have many causes, so when your heel hurts visit your podiatrist in Indianapolis immediately to determine the reason for your pain and to get proper treatment. What is Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)? Normally, as your foot absorbs the weight of your body during walking, the arch area joint locking mechanism provides about 80% of the stability of the foot. The other 20% is provided by the plantar fascia and muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Plantar fasciitis is a term commonly used to refer to heel and arch pain traced to an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. Over-pronation is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis because as the foot rolls inward excessively when walking, it flattens the foot, lengthens the arch, and puts added tension on the plantar fascia. Over time, this causes inflammation in your heel. Inflammation may become irritated by shoes that lack appropriate support, mainly in the arch area and by the constant irritation associated with an athletic lifestyle. Resting may provide temporary relief, but when you resume walking you may experience a sudden elongation of the fascia band, which stretches and pulls on the heel. As you walk the pain may lessen or even disappear, but that may just be a false sense of relief as the pain often will return after prolonged rest or extensive walking. Treat and Prevent Heel Pain Treatment for heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, can begin at home with strategies such as: • Stretching activities
• Avoid going barefoot
• Ice the area
• Limit your activities
• Modify your shoes Footwear selection is also an important criterion when treating heel pain. Shoes that contain a firm heel counter, good arch support, and appropriate heel height are the ideal choice for comforting your pain. If your pain persists, contact your Indianapolis podiatrist for further consultation and treatment of your symptoms and ailments. Your Indianapolis podiatrist can further evaluate your condition by examining the foot, and by utilizing advanced imaging techniques that are available in the office. Further treatment may involve a safe and effective injection of cortisone, in office physical therapy as well as the use of custom fitted arch supports, or orthotics. Your podiatrist in Indianapolis can also work with you to provide long term conditioning and support to help minimize the chance of a recurrence. Avoid heel pain with the help of your podiatrist and proper prevention.
Drs. Jeffrey Agricola and Anthony Miller of Prestige Podiatry are experienced podiatrists in Indianapolis, Carmel and Greenwood. Offering a full array of treatments, including heel pain and bunions patients turn to Prestige Podiatry, Indianapolis podiatrist, for all of their foot and ankle problems.
|
