Heel Pain

Heel pain is a very common condition seen regularly in a podiatry clinic. Often indiscriminate in who it affects, regularly striking the young and the old.

In many cases, pain will usually start mild but can develop to become severe and debilitating. Often there is no injury, and the pain is caused by repetitive stress. Heel pain can be triggered by a change in footwear, poor footwear or a change in activity.

Common causes of heel pain include:

1. Plantar Fasciitis (Inflammation of the plantar fascia)
   The plantar fascia is a bow like ligament which connects the heel to the ball of the foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, commonly in the low or high arched foot, it can become very painful. Often the pain is felt where the ligament attaches to the heel but can become painful anywhere along the ligament. Sufferers will often describe pain after rest and is regularly associated with tight or painful calf muscles.

2. Achilles Tendinosis
   The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that attaches the calf muscles to the back of the heel. Tendinosis refers to the chronic degeneration of the tendon. Commonly, the tendon is placed under more tension than it can handle and microscopic tears develop, which do not repair correctly. Consequently, the tendon will thicken, weaken and become painful.

3. Severs Disease
   The most common cause of heel pain in children and teenagers. Regularly seen in the active child/teenager between the ages of 7 to 15 years. Pain is caused by repetitive microtrauma to the growth plate in the heel.

4. Stress Fracture
5. Bone Bruise
6. Arthritis
7. Gout

Regardless of the cause, your heel pain should be assessed by a podiatrist so that a personalised treatment plan be designed to get you back to pain free activity as soon as possible.