Bunions
Corns and Callus'
Foot Odour
Heel Pains
Hammer Toe


FOOT PROBLEMS – HEEL PAIN:


Heel pain is common and can be due to a number of conditions. The heel bone is the largest bone in the foot and is the first to hit the ground when walking. Given the forces of walking that the heel bone is subjected to and the subsequent pull of surrounding ligaments and muscles, it is not surprising that heel pain is so common.

CAUSE OF HEEL PAIN:


There is no one cause of heel pain. There are many different factors that can cause this discomfort. Some of the types of problems that can be seen in the heel include:

  • Heel spurs - these are small bony spurs that often develop on the bottom of the heel. They do not really cause any problems. It is only mentioned here as it is a common myth that they are a problem - almost always the pain associated with heel spurs is really plantar fasciitis.
  • Plantar fasciitis – this is the most common cause of heel pain and is due to a strain of the long ligament along the bottom of the foot. The most symptom is pain when getting out of bed first thing in the morning.
  • Stress fractures - which is an abnormal reaction of bone to stress can occur in those that are very active (eg athletes) or have weaker bones (eg osteoporosis)
  • 'Stone' bruise – which is sometimes considered to be a cause of heel pain – it’s simply a bruise of the bone.

TREATMENT OF HEEL PAIN:


The key to the effective treatment of heel pain is in your footwear. Extra padding and cushioning features in a shoe will help to ease the pain whilst walking. In addition, there are inserts one can place in their footwear (gel cushions etc) to add to the cushioning of a shoe. These benefits all help to absorb the shock exerted when walking.