Heel Pain
The heel is the largest bone in the human foot. Heel pain can be disabling occurring at the back, side or bottom of the heel and can be attributed to a variety of causes such as gait abnormalities which places too much stress on the heel, injuries caused by hard surfaces or by wearing badly constructed footwear.
Plantar Fasciitis is a condition where there is a deep pain on the sole of the heel. Burning, stabbing or aching pains are the usual symptoms. It can be caused by pronation (rolling in of the foot) which causes inflammation in the plantar fascia which runs along the bottom of the foot.
Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon as it runs behind the ankle and inserts on the back surface of the heel bone. It is common in people who run or have tight tendons. Where the tendon is strained over time, it causes the fibres to tear and stretch either along the length of the tendon or at its insertion on the heel bone. This leads to pain and the possible growth of a bone spur on the back of the heel bone.
We can provide stretching exercises and insole/orthotic advice to alleviate the symptoms.
