Heel Pain-Part 1

The heel bone or calcaneus is the largest bone in the foot and has many important soft tissue structures that attach to it. The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation of the band that extends from the bottom of the heel along the arch. Plantar fasciitis can occur with weight or activity changes, gait abnormalities, based on foot structure abnormalities, injury or trauma, overuse, and sometimes no cause can be identified. Typically, there is pain after rest (sitting at a desk, getting up from bed) with plantar fasciitis, but pain can also occur at a lesser level during the day in some patients or be aggravated by exercise or activity. Common treatments of plantar fasciitis include the following: icing, stretching, changing shoegear, no barefoot walking, medicine, injections, strapping the foot, orthotic devices, physical therapy, and night splints. There can be other causes of heel pain, so if the condition is not improving after 2-4 weeks, x-rays, MRI, and immobilization may be needed for the pain. Dr. Bender, 708-763-0580 oakparkpodiatry.com