Heel Pain

Heel pain is a very common foot and ankle problem. You might experience pain, soreness or tenderness anywhere in your heel, but the most common areas are underneath it or the back of it. There are many different health conditions that can cause heel pain, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis.

Heel pain can make it difficult to walk and participate in daily activities. It’s important to see your healthcare provider to help you determine the exact cause of pain in the heel of your foot. Most heel conditions improve with nonsurgical treatments, but your body will need time to recover.

Symptoms of heel pain: Heel Pain typically stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel. The pain is usually the worst with the first few steps after awakening, although it also can be triggered by long periods of standing or when you get up from sitting.

• Pain in the back of the heel, and in the ankle and calf.
• Redness and swelling, dull aching pain in heel.
• Sudden sharp pain in heel, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury, difficulty walking.

Causes of heel pain: Heel pain causes range from mild to severe, depending on the location of the pain. You may experience sudden heel pain without injury or pain that develops over time. Several problems are located at the back of the heel:

• Achilles tendinitis: Your Achilles tendon is a fibrous tissue that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. It’s your body’s longest and strongest tendon. Runners and basketball players are more prone to Achilles tendinitis. This overuse injury inflames the tendon. Tendonitis causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the back of your heel.
• Bursitis: Bursitis occurs when fluid-filled sacs called bursae (plural of bursa) swell. These sacs cushion your joints, allowing for fluid movement. You may have a tender, bruise-like feeling in the back of your heel. Bursitis typically occurs after you spend a lot of time on your feet.
• Haglund’s deformity: Chronic inflammation and irritation can cause an enlarged, bony bump (called a pump bump) to form in the back of your heel. Shoes with higher heels, like pumps, can make the bump and pain worse.
• Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis): Sever’s disease is a frequent cause of heel pain in active children between the ages of 8 and 14. Kids who participate in activities that require a lot of running and jumping are more prone to this problem. The increased athletic activity irritates the growth plate in the back of their heels.

Diagnosis of heel pain: Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and perform a physical exam. You may also get X-rays to check for arthritis, bone fractures, bone misalignment and joint damage.

Rarely will you initially need an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or ultrasound. These can show soft tissue problems that X-rays don’t reveal.

Treatment of heel pain: Most people recover with conservative treatments within months. Treatment options include the following:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and swelling.
• Corticosteroid injections may work if NSAIDs are not effective.
• Physical therapy can teach exercises that strengthen the lower leg muscles.
• Athletic taping gives the bottom of the foot better support.
• Orthotics, or assistive devices, and insoles can help correct foot deformities.

Exercises of heel pain: Heel pain compromises the healthy function of the plantar fascia ligament spanning the heel, arch and ball of your foot. Engaging in simple exercises can help improve the strength and stretching ability of this vital ligament. 

All of the following exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home and involve little or no cost. When used in conjunction with rest, icing and a good orthotic shoe insert, these heel pain exercises can lead to a remarkable reduction in Plantar Fasciitis symptoms.

• Calf stretch
• Rolling stretch
• Seated foot stretch
• Towel curls
• Marble pickup

Effective management of Heel Pain at Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) in Shyamoli requires teamwork among medical professionals and patients, which in turn improves the patients' quality of life.

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