How A Podiatrist Can Help You Recover From Heel Pain
Posted on: 23 January 2023
Heel pain can interfere with your ability to get around and keep up with your daily responsibilities. Some cases of heel pain will resolve spontaneously within a week or so of developing, but persistent heel pain typically requires treatment. Heel pain is a relatively common complaint treated by podiatrists and can develop for a number of reasons. In general, heel pain can be more difficult to resolve if it's left untreated for a long period of time.
Common Causes Of Heel Pain
Heel pain often develops as a result of putting too much pressure on the heel or the foot in general. It can also occur if your foot arches are too high or too flat, which can cause excessive strain on the muscles of your feet when standing and walking. Heel pain is the main symptoms of a few common foot conditions that include plantar fasciitis, bursitis and Achilles tendinitis. Plantar fasciitis causes the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot to become inflamed, while bursitis causes swelling at the back of the heel bone. Achilles tendinitis can develop due to strain being placed on the tissue that connects your heel bone to your calf muscles, and those who take part in high-impact sports are particularly susceptible to this condition.
Podiatric Assessment
When you visit a podiatrist for heel pain you can expect them to carry out a foot exam and take details of your symptoms. They will try to determine the cause of your heel pain and will gently manipulate your foot to check your range of motion. If the podiatrist is concerned about a serious underlying problem, such as a fracture, they will arrange for you to have diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray.
Treating Heel Pain
Podiatrists treat heel pain in a number of ways, and the right treatment approach for you will depend on what has caused the pain to develop and how severe the inflammation is around your heel. Your podiatrist may initially recommend a period of rest and elevating your foot to encourage the inflammation to come down. They can also show you foot exercises that are designed to reduce stiffness around the heel and improve the range of movement in your foot. These exercises can strengthen the muscles in your foot and help prevent heel pain from developing again in the future. If there's a problem with your foot arches, your podiatrist will provide you with custom-made orthotic insoles to support the arches and prevent pressure points from developing.
If you have heel pain that doesn't seem to be getting better on its own, consult a podiatrist.
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