Heel pain

Information  •  Fri 11 Sep 2020

The heel is a common problem for people of all ages. Heel pain is often a catch-all term for any condition that can occur around the heel, often causing chronic discomfort.

Conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and heel spurs can cause pain and inflammation in your foot. This in turn often affects your ability to complete day-to-day activities. Symptoms include pain at the base of the heel, pain when standing up after an extended period of time, or burning and tightness in the arch of the foot.

Resting and avoiding running, standing for a long time and walking on hard surfaces may help to relieve heel pain until it has been assessed and individualised treatment plan has been formulated to get you back on feet.

Common Causes

• Plantar fasciitis
• Heel spur
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Stress fracture
• Bursitis
• Inflammation of the heel growth plate in children (Sever’s)
• Torn ligament or tendon

Diagnosis

• Clinical examination
• Biomechanical assessment to better understand why the pain developed
• Ultrasound Scan
• MRI (rarely required)

Treatments are always tailored to the individual, they may include:

• Footwear recommendation
• Massage
• Strapping and bracing
• Prescribed exercises and stretches
• Orthotics
• Swiss DolorClast® (Shockwave Therapy)
• Injection Therapy

Heel pain is best treated sooner rather than later.

Book an appointment to find out how we can help you get back on your feet pain-free!