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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.
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.
| The following
New Balance running shoes help with heel pain (plantar fasciitis):
1222,
1122,
816,
and 992.
If you are interested in walking shoes, the following styles
should be considered if you have heel pain or plantar fasciitis:
926,
844, and the 811. |
- Using over-the-counter orthotics by New Balance, Spenco, or
Powerstep (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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NB Men's Shoes
Race For The Cure
1-866-417-4637