1 in 10 people will suffer from heel pain and there are many evidence based treatment options available. Heel pain is an umbrella term which refers to pain under the heel bone. There are approximately 40 different conditions that can affect the heel, so understanding the specific diagnosis is important when establishing an appropriate treatment plan.
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue on the bottom of the foot and inserts into the heel. This tissue can be damaged, torn or overloaded with increased activity levels on the foot, or increased body weight. Microdamage and swelling occurs under the heel, leading to increased collagen turnover and scar tissue formation. This causes chronic thickening of the plantar fascia that can easily be identified by scanning the foot with the use of diagnostic ultrasound.
The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:
Our experienced Foot & Ankle team will assess your concern during an initial consultation and provide you with an appropriate management plan that may include:
