|
 Heel
pain and what we can do about it:
One of the most common causes of heel pain is plantar
fasciitis. This is caused by inflammation or an irritation
of the structure that runs from the heel to the ball
of the foot.
The Plantar fascia is a thick, strong strip of tissue
that supports the arch of the foot. When the foot is
on the ground, the full weight of our body is placed
on this area, forcing it to stretch as the arch of the
foot flattens from the weight.
This leads to stress on the area where the plantar fascia
attaches to the heel bone. This can then lead to small
tears of the fascia. The tears are normally repaired
naturally by the body, but repetitive stress on the area
can result in incomplete healing.
A bone spur may also occur as the body tries to compensate
for too much stress.
If your first steps of the day are painful:
 Heel pain is a result of inflammation of the plantar
fascia, bone spurs or an impingement of nerves in the
foot. Symptoms can include pain around the heel when
weight bearing.
The pain is usually worst in the morning when taking
the first few steps after getting out of bed. In most
cases, pain is not experienced at night since the fascia
tightens up overnight.
The first movements in the morning cause a pulling of
the fascia and results in pain. Usually a sharp, burning
or stabbing pain is experienced. The pain usually reduces
as the tissue warms up. Walking, prolonged standing or
getting up after resting for a long period of time usually
exacerbates the problem.
The most common causes of heel pain include:
- Recent weight gain or pregnancy
- An increase in physical activities, especially in
athletes
- Flat feet, a high arch or an abnormal gait
- Running or jumping
- Improper footwear while running or walking
- Diabetes can contributes to heel pain in the elderly
Taking the right steps to help relieve heel
pain:
Plantar fasciitis does not usually require surgery and
can be treated by our Podiatrists.
However, everybody heals at a different pace. If you
are suffering from pain in your heel, the first thing
we will need to do is determine the cause. For example,
you may need to replace your old shoes. You may need
to slow down if you have recently significantly increased
your activity.
The next thing to do is to call
us here at Central City Health
 Professionals. Depending on the extent of your problem,
you may need to see a doctor. Your doctor may prescribe
you some anti-inflammatory medication and Podiatry to
help reduce the pain and inflammation. If you are experiencing
excessive inflammation, your doctor may want to give
you a cortisone injection.
Most people experiencing heel pain can find relief from
orthotics. Depending on the anatomy of your foot, we
may recommend that you use an orthotic. We have a state
of the art computer scanner that is able to examine how
you walk, diagnose the problem and provide a solution.
The therapies we provide to help you recover as fast
as possible include ultrasound, massage, electrical stimulation
and ice packs. Our therapy usually also includes stretching
the calf muscles to help relieve the tension that is
being placed on the plantar fascia. If your calf muscle
is really tight, the doctor may order a splint to be
worn at night.
This can provide a gentle stretch of the calf muscles
and also the plantar fascia. This can help to reduce
the pain that is experienced in the morning. Patients
suffering from plantar fasciitis are commonly prescribed
Podiatry.
Our therapists here at Central City Health Professionals
design targeted exercises to help improve the flexibility
of the plantar fascia and the calf muscles.
Our treatment can help control swelling and pain. Call
our office today and we can help you take the right steps
without any pain!
Your health and wellbeing is
most important.
Call Central City Health Professionals
Today on 08 9421 1733 today and let us show how we
can help you.
|
