Plantar fasciitis, heel pain, and heel spurs
One of the most common foot problems seen at TFC Podiatry Yarraville & Point Cook is heel pain.
For most of our patients with this problem, their pain is located directly underneath the heel and is worst when getting out of bed in the morning. Once you warm up and get moving the pain often settles. The pain can also return after periods of rest or non-weight bearing. Over time without treatment, this pain can become worse and scar tissue can develop. The pain starts as slight discomfort and over time becomes more severe. As a result, you may begin limping to offset the pain, ultimately leading to further injury or pain.
Some of the causes of heel pain:
- Trauma from sport or athletic activities.
- Foot posture-related (ie. a pronated or supinated foot type)
- Muscle tightness in the calf.
-
Inappropriate runners (ie. runners with too little or too much rear or midfoot control)
What our assessment involves:
At TFC Podiatry, we will perform a biomechanical assessment in order to determine the level of reduced movement in any joints or apparent muscle contractures. In addition to this assessment, we perform a thorough barefoot gait analysis. We can then look at your footwear to determine if your current runner is appropriate.
Treatment types:
- Muscle stretching and strengthening.
- Custom orthotic prescription to correct foot posture, reduce pressure, and strain through the plantar fascia.
- Dry needling to improve muscle length and reduce contractures
- Fitting of cam boots for plantar fascia tears
If your heel pain is left untreated, troublesome scar tissue and plantar fascial tears may develop.
Book in now to see a podiatrist at TFC Podiatry and get your heel pain sorted!
