Spring 2021: Put heel pain behind you
Now that the sun is shining and the weather warms up, you have probably changed to your warm weather shoes, sandals and flip flops. Oftentimes, these types of shoe gear do not adequately support the arches in your feet, which can lead to heel pain. Two of the most common causes for heel pain are plantar fasciitis, with the pain being felt under your heels, and Achilles tendinitis, with the pain occurring at the back of your heels.
There is a ligament (plantar fascia) at the bottom of your heel that connects your heel bone to the ball of your foot. Walking, running, jumping or even standing for long periods of time all puts repeated stress on the plantar fascia, which can become over stretched and painful.
A similar problem can occur at the back of your heel. The Achilles tendon attaches the muscles in the calf to your heel bone. Tension often increases when the calf muscles are not properly stretched and supported, leading to pain in the back of your heel. As you age, or with repeated stress from running, jumping or pushing up on your toes (think stair climbing), this tendon can become weak, over stretched and even tear if there is a severe jolt.
Diagnosing heel pain
Other causes of heel pain include fracture of the calcaneal bone, arthritis, bruises, dry or cracked heels, blisters, and pain associated with peripheral vascular disease. At Country Foot Care, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic services which include digital x-ray imaging to identify bone problems, diagnostic ultrasound studies to identify and quantify soft tissue involvement and fluoroscopy for dynamic evaluation of your heel pain.
State-of-the-art Treatment
Our office offers the most advanced treatment to help relieve heel pain by addressing and resolving the foot problems that cause the pain. The following are some of the treatments available in our office for heel pain:
- Custom orthotics
- Shockwave therapy
- Physical therapy
- Amniotic membrane (NuDyn) biologic treatment
- PRFM (Platelet rich fibrin matrix)
If you experience heel pain, call the doctors at Country Foot Care (516) 741-FEET who will discuss which treatment is best for you.