The most common causes of heel pain are conditions called heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a broad band of tissue which originates from the heel, runs along the sole of the foot and connects to the toes.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common types of heel pain problems developed in most people. (including myself!) Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear and tear to the plantar fascia area of a person’s foot.
Athletic tape is applied to the plantar fascia and works be reducing tension by preventing the fascia from stretching.The tape is strapped from the heel to the base of the toes. Tension is maintained by the tape thus allowing the fascia to rest and heal. The tape has to stick to the skin for it to work due to the tension being transferred through to the skin. Specific athletic tape should be used. Podiatrists recommend that the tape be applied every morning and removed every evening to allow the skin to breathe.
Shoe inserts are by far the most effective treatment used to manage plantar fasciitis. They help reduce stress at key weight points. Keep each foot properly aligned and cradle, which stabilises your heels. A strategically placed heel insert made of poron foam absorbs the pounding foot shock of each step.
Resting your feet off the weight of your body is the primary method of plantar fasciitis treatment. Since many foot injuries are a result of muscles and tendon imbalances, stretching some of your muscle groups apart from strengthening can help to alleviate your heel pain problems.
A relatively new treatment option for heel pain is ESWT which involves the usage of high intensity sound waves to cause neovascularization (tissue repair). ESWT should be used in conjuciton with other conservative options such as stretching, orthotics, activity modifications and maintaining a healthy weight. The success of ESWT is difficult to establish due to different levels of intensity being use by different practitioners. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that this treatment option can be successful, ESWT is not available in all podiatrist surgeries and is generally only available in specialist clinics.
Casting is rarely a treatment option for heel pain. Podiatrists have applied well-padded fiberglass walking casts with the ankle in a neutral to slight dorsiflexion (upward position). There has been many long term studies carried out on this treatment option but overall casting works in a similar fashion to plantar fasciitis night splints.
Learn more about pain in the heel. Stop by Timothy R. Longwell’s site where you can find out all about heel spur symptoms and how to cure them.