The most common causes of heel pain, explained
Heel pain can be crippling and is a very common foot complaint. If you have ever felt like you are standing on rocks first thing in the morning, or if your Achilles tendon aches every time you are physically active, the likelihood is you understand how painful heel pain can be.
There can be several causes of heel pain, but two of the most common issues we encounter are Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinopathy.
Plantar Fasciitis
The Plantar Fascia is the ligament that runs from the heel to the base of the toes and provides structural integrity to the arches of the foot. The Plantar Fascia can be overworked with repeated activity to the foot, causing inflammation and results in heel pain.
Plantar Fasciitis is especially painful first thing in the morning or after sitting still for a long time, with many comparing the pain to walking on pebbles in bare feet. This feeling can ease up during the day but may return with a vengeance after a day on your feet.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Commonly, Plantar Fasciitis occurs due to a problem with the structure of the foot. People with issues such as highly arched or flat feet may be more likely to experience Plantar Fasciitis. Shoes can also be a struggle to fit comfortably, often exacerbating the pain.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Pain that occurs first thing in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time
Pain on the bottom of the heel or in the arch
Swelling at the bottom of your feet
Pain that increases over time
Achilles Tendinopathy
The Achilles’ tendon is an important yet delicate part of the body. It is where the calf muscles come together to provide the leg strong propulsion when moving your body forward. This tendon can weaken with age, often presenting as tendinopathy, bursitis, spurs, or fasciitis.
Causes of Achilles Tendinopathy
Achilles Tendinopathy occurs most commonly in older people, in athletes, or in people with a sudden increase in running activity. Have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. Caused by repeated or intensive strain on the tendon, Achilles tendinopathy usually starts as an ache above the heel after some sort of activity and can evolve to severe pain after repetitive strain.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy
Tender and stiffness in the Achilles tendon
Aches above the heel, particularly in the morning
Pain that improves with stretches or mild activity
What Allegro Physiotherapy Can Do for Heel Pain
Allegro Physiotherapy provides our clients with a concise assessment to evaluate their wheel alignment and to get them back on track. We provide essential advice and homework to get our clients up and moving without any more pain. After this assessment, we are then able to select the best course of treatment.
When treating conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinopathy, our state-of-the-art shockwave equipment has been proven to work wonders.
Shockwave Therapy is a specialised treatment we use to manage both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. The shockwave is an intense, short energy wave that travels faster than sound and is generated from the shockwave machine outside the body. This mechanical vibration encourages damaged tissues to heal in a more organised and stronger fashion. Typically, this treatment will show ideal results in 4 – 6 sessions.
At Allegro Physiotherapy, we treat the symptoms and get to the source of the problem. Our vision is to assess, treat and rehabilitate our patients back to normal function, eliminating pain and restriction from their lives. We also have a range of foot-friendly thongs and amazing Frankie4 shoes that can aid in heel pain. Don’t let heel pain ruin your day!
