Heel
Pain |
Information
for health
professionals
on heel
pain
and
plantar fasciitis
|
Heel pain is common and can be
due to a number of conditions. The calcaneus (heel bone) is the
largest bone in the foot and is the first to hit the ground when
walking. |
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The anatomy
of heel pain: |
The heel bone is designed to be
the first contact the foot has with the ground. The achilles tendon
inserts into the back of the heel bone (calcaneus) and a very strong
ligament along the bottom of the foot attaches to the bottom of
the heel bone (the plantar fascia). Several small muscles also attach
to the heel bone above the insertion of the plantar fascia. |
Given the forces of walking that
the heel bone is subjected to and the pull of all these ligaments
and muscles, then it is not surprising that heel pain is so common. |
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The causes
of heel pain: |
There
is no one cause of heel pain. Whole text books have been written
on Disorders of the Heel. Some of the
types of problems that can be seen in the heel include:
-
Heel spurs
- these are small bony spurs that often develop on the bottom
of the heel. They do not really cause any problems. It is only
mentioned here as it is a common myth that they are a problem
- almost always the pain associated with heel spurs is really
plantar fasciitis.
-
Plantar
fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and is due
to a strain of the long ligament along the bottom of the foot.
The most symptom is pain when getting out of bed first thing
in the morning ('post-static dyskinesia')
- A number of disease processes can uncommonly cause heel
pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
ankylosing spondylitis and gout.
-
Stress fractures, which is an abnormal
reaction of bone to stress can occur in those that are very
active (eg athletes) or have weaker bones (eg osteoporosis)
-
Pain at the back of the heel could be due
to a number of problems - there could be a bursitis at the back
of the heel bone (sometimes called 'Haglund's); there could
be problems with the insertion of the achilles tendon, such
as tendonitis or calcification.
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-
A 'stone' bruise is sometimes considered
to be a cause of heel pain - its is simply a bruise of the bone.
-
Another cause of heel pain is problems in
the calf muscles that refer pain to the heel (myofascial trigger
points) or pain referred from the lower back via the nerves
from the back to the heel.
-
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Links of
relevance to heel pain: |
Heel
spur
Plantar
fasciitis
Heel
pain in the child (Sever's disease, calcaneal
apophysitis)
Pain
in the arch
Tarsal
tunnel syndrome
ePodiatry's
database of heel pain information
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a question in the foot health forum about heel pain |
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to help heel pain: |
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Canada: |
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ePodiatry is purely
a source of information on heel pain and should at no time be considered
as replacing the expertise of a health professional. We recommend
seeking professional advice for heel pain and any foot problem before
embarking on any form of self treatment or management. Neither the
content or any other service provided through ePodiatry is intended
to be relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Do not delay
in seeking health professional advice for heel pain or any other
foot problem because of something seen on ePodiatry. |
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©2003. The information
contained on this page about heel pain is subject to copyright.
No part of the information about heel pain contained on this page
can be reproduced in any form without the permission of ePodiatry. |
Heel
Pain
|