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| Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis |
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 HEEL
PAIN CAN BE CURED
Heel pain among weekend sports participants, runners, and those
beginning exercise programs is reaching epidemic proportions.
Furthermore, heel pain is one of the most common and persistent
foot problems affecting men and women. It originates deep within
the foot, directly on the heel bone, or within the foot’s
connective tissue -- the fascia. The plantar fascia is a very
thick band of tissue that covers the bones on the bottom of the
foot. Pain results in the heel or arch when these tissues become
irritated or inflamed or when small spurs grow on the heel bone
itself.
It is estimated that 15 percent of all adult foot complaints involve
plantar fasciitis, the type of heel pain caused by chronic inflammation
of the connective tissue extending from the heel bone to the toes.
Plantar fasciitis occurs most frequently in adults 40 years and
older, especially women. Being overweight and wearing inappropriate
footwear are common contributing factors. The pain is most noticeable
after getting out of bed in the morning, and it tends to decrease
after a few minutes and returns during the day as time on the
feet increases.
New Balance Running Shoes: The
following New Balance running shoes help with heel pain
(plantar fasciitis): 1225, 1123 (best), 1012 (best),
the 850 (best),
and 993.
New Balance Walking Shoes: If you are interested in
walking shoes, the following styles should be considered
if you have heel pain or plantar fasciitis: 927 (best),
the 845 (best),
and the 811 . |
Many patients attempt self remedies for heel pain, such as anti-inflammatory
medications and over-the-counter heel pads, before seeking medical
advice. To help diagnose the origin of heel pain, physicians take
a thorough history to learn the time of day when the heel pain
occurs, types of shoes worn most frequently, activity levels at
work or during recreation, and if there has been any recent trauma
to the area. X-rays often are taken to check for heel spurs, which
indicate that the condition has been present for 6 to 12 months.
Generally, the longer that heel pain persists, the longer it takes
to cure it.
Not all heel pain, however, is caused by plantar fasciitis. It
also can occur from inflammation of the Achilles tendon, bursitis,
arthritis, gout, stress fractures, or irritation of one or more
of the nerves in the region. Sometimes in such cases, heel pain
could be a symptom of a serious medical condition that should
be diagnosed and treated separately.
Conservative Treatment Works
Initial treatment options for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis
include the following:
- Stretching the calf muscles regularly
- Wearing the proper shoes. Shoes that do well to help with plantar
fasciitis include those with strong arch support (This is different
than high arch support). To determine whether or not a shoe
has strong arch support, a torsion test is required. During
the torsion test look for shoes that are stiff in the arch area
and do not bend/flex in that area. If an athletic shoe bends
in the middle, it may not provide the required stability and
protection against heel pain. A shoe should bend in the area
in which the toes bend and not at the arch.
- Using over-the-counter orthotics by New Balance, Spenco,
Powerstep or Lynco (these orthotics are firm/hard through the arch; they
are not soft, cushioned all-purpose inserts like Dr. Scholl’s).
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Padding and strapping of the foot around the arch
- Injections of corticosterioids.
Most patients with plantar fasciitis respond to conservative
treatment within six weeks. If improvement occurs, initial therapy
is continued until the heel pain is resolved. But if heel pain
persists, the patient should be referred to a podiatric foot
and ankle surgeon for further evaluation and more specialized
treatment.
Treatments for Persistent Heel Pain
When conservative treatment fails to remedy heel pain,
surgical options that may be considered are removal of a heel
spur and separation of the fascial tissue from the heel bone
(plantar fasciotomy). During surgery to separate fascial tissue,
the podiatric foot and ankle surgeon makes a small incision
on the inside of the heel and gently cuts away the tissue. During
this procedure, if heel spurs are present they may removed after
the fascial tissue is detached from the heel bone.
Heel pain surgery normally is performed on an outpatient basis.
A cast might be needed to immobilize the foot for two or three
weeks after surgery and about a month of physical therapy is
recommended after that. With no complications, recovery is complete
in six to eight weeks.
A relatively new non-invasive technique, extracorporeal shock
wave therapy, also is effective for treating severe, chronic
heel pain in adults. This new procedure uses a lithotriptor
device -- similar to those used to eliminate kidney stones --
to generate shock waves aimed at the treatment site. The shock
waves achieve therapeutic results by increasing blood flow to
trigger a healing response. This eases inflammation in the heel
and relieves chronic pain.
With several surgical and non-surgical treatment alternatives
available, heel pain should not be tolerated as a consequence
of aging, injury, disease or regular physical activity. Sometimes
a simple modification of daily activities to reduce stress on
the feet can help relieve it. But for those with persistent
heel pain, podiatric foot and ankle surgeons are the experts
to consult for determining the most appropriate treatments.
Disclaimer:
The information provided is not intended to be a substitute
for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified
health provider with any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition. The opinions expressed on this
site are not endorsed by New Balance Athletic Shoe,
Inc. |
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