Heel pain which affects the back area of the foot may interfere with our daily activities like standing or walking. Usually, heel pain is marked by the presence of a tingling sensation or numbness in the area that is affected as well as swelling. In majority of cases, pain is said to be moderate and bearable. Proper foot care is able to heal the condition by itself with no medical treatment provided. Heel pain is considered to be a common foot problem. Typically, the pain takes place under the heel as seen in plantar fasciitis or just behind it in which the tendon of Achilles will attach to the heel bone as seen in Achilles tendinitis. Even if the cause of heel pain is not often serious, the pain itself can be serious and can disable a person occasionally.
Usually, it is the doctor that will determine the cause of heel pain based on the symptoms felt and a physical examination. X-rays or other imaging tests are not often necessary. Treatments for heel pain will consist of strengthening and stretching exercises, use of foot supports and rest. Heel pain will seldom require invasive measures like surgery.
Heel Pain Causes
There are numerous conditions of the foot that will result to foot pain. Wearing of tight or uncomfortable shoes and also prolonged standing or walking are some of the most common causes of heel pain. More often than not, people who are overweight and obese are often affected with heel pain since the extra pounds will place excessive stress and load on the feet. Foot ailments which can set off heel pain are listed below:
Plantar Fasciitis
Approximately, ninety percent of people suffering from heel pain are diagnosed to have plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue which can be found at the base of the foot. As a ligament which is considered to be an essential component of the sole of the foot, it runs from the heel bone to the toes. Since the plantar fascia is relatively a flexible ligament, this is able to stretch when necessary. If this thick fibrous band which originates from the heel bone will become inflamed, this will result to heel pain. Pain will be more apparent if there is inflammation on the area of the plantar fascia which is located under the heel bone. Plantar fasciitis is also common in athletes due to overuse of the foot. If the plantar fascia is subjected to excessive or abnormal stretching, this will lead to inflammation of the ligament. As a result, activities such as walking or running can be somewhat painful. Failure to perform warm up exercises before running will trigger plantar fasciitis which will cause pain under the heel.
Achilles Tendonitis
Inflammation of the Achilles tendon which is also termed as Achilles tendinitis is included in the list of causes for heel pain. The Achilles tendon which runs from the calf muscle to the heel bone is the largest tendon in the human body. This will assist the toes in order to support the weight of the body. In Achilles tendonitis, there is inflammation on the area where Achilles tendon connects with the heel bone. The person will eventually experience pain at the back of the heel. Keep on reading about the causes of Achilles tendon pain.
Achilles Tendon Tear or Rupture
When the Achilles tendon is overstretched during any kind of physical activity, this fibrous tissue may be damaged. An abnormal stretch would often result to sudden rupture or Achilles tendon tear. This can lead to swelling of the heel. With this condition, when a person stands up on the toes, he will feel an excruciating pain which will become worse after a while.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
One of the causes of heel pain that is common is tarsal tunnel syndrome. This occurs when the posterior tibial nerve is compressed. The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve and run downs the leg and is connected to the ankle. The area of the nerve which lies within the ankle is known to be the posterior tibial nerve. When an individual stands or exercise for a long period of time, this can place undue pressure on the ankle. As a consequence, the posterior tibial nerve of the ankle will be subjected to too much strain which can then trigger shooting pain from behind the heel that is unbearable.
Heel Pain Treatment
First and foremost, it is important to determine the factors which are responsible for the heel pain. Taking X-rays or an MRI scan on the leg that is affected will help make the diagnosis of the problem with regard to heel pain. Listed below are some of common methods of treatment which are helpful in providing relief for heel pain.
Rest - Physical activities which will put strain on the foot will increase the heel pain. It is necessary to avoid running or excessive walking. As much as possible, take sufficient rest as this is significant in getting rid of heel pain.
Ice or cold compress - Application of ice on the sole of the affected foot and also behind the heel that is injured is beneficial in combating inflammation and control of pain. This is considered to be an age-old remedy.
Medications - Ibuprofen is the medicine which is known to relieve pain. As an anti-inflammatory drug, this is quite effective in reducing the discomfort.
Corticosteroid Injections – Another alternative of treating the causes of heel pain is the use of corticosteroid injections. This kind of treatment will help to accelerate healing and significantly reduce the pain.
Wear Proper Shoes - Individuals who are suffering from heel pain must avoid wearing shoes which will only provide very little support to the heel as well as the ankle.
Orthotics - these are products which can be inserted inside the shoes in order to provide arch support and relieve the heel pain. These products can alleviate the symptoms of the underlying foot problem since they provide a cushioning support. Orthotics like gel heel cups can help in improving the overall health of the foot.
Heel Pain Exercises - Walking with bare feet for a short time can stimulate the flow of blood in the feet. This is necessary to reduce the pain. Stretching exercises like knee bending while the heels are in contact with the floor are also advisable in order to reduce the pain. These exercises for heel pain should be performed at least two times within the day so that the condition of the foot will improve.
Heel Pain Exercise #1
While you sit in a chair, place a rolling pin, golf ball, tennis ball or even a bottle of beer under your foot. Then roll the ball with the arch of the foot with a forward and backward direction from the heel to the toes. If you do not feel pain and you feel comfortable doing it, continue doing this exercise for about four to five minutes. You can even perform this exercise while standing to make it more effective.
Heel Pain Exercise #2
While sitting on the ground or on your bed, put a rolled towel around your toes. Try pulling the towel towards your body while keeping the leg straight as you hold the towel at both ends. Hold this position for about twenty to twenty five seconds and repeat it four to five times according to your comfort. If you pull harder, you can make this exercise even stronger. While performing the exercise, make sure to feel a strong stretch under the foot, at the back of the heel and on the calf muscles.
Heel Pain Exercise #3
This is done in a standing position while you keep your hands against the wall at the level of the eye. Put one leg about a step behind the other leg so that one leg is in a straight position while the other one is in a bending position. Put the heel of straight leg on the ground and then lean forward in order to feel a strong pull on the calf muscles. Maintain this position for about twenty to twenty five seconds and repeat up to five times.
It is crucial to eliminate the foot problem in order to determine the causes of heel pain. If in case, the heel pain will persist for several weeks, this could be an indication of severe foot ailment. Thus, immediate medical advice is necessary to reduce the pain at an earlier stage.
Heel Pain in Children
Majority of heel pain in children is because of Sever’s disease. This can also be the result of some other health conditions. Typically, young children who belong to the age group of 10 to 14 will experience heel pain. Boys are more susceptible to heel pain when compared to girls. The pain is usually felt at the back of the heel. But there are times when pain is felt at the bottom of the heel also. Since the pain is not constant, this would often come and go. Both legs may be affected or only a single leg is affected. Generally, the healing time for heel pain among children is two weeks but this could reappear after a while.
In children, heel pain begins after the heels are overused because of physical activities such as jumping and running. Sever’s disease takes place when there is temporary deformation of the Achilles tendon located at the back of the heel. This occurs when growth of calf muscles and bones as well as the Achilles tendon does not match properly. This would mean that the growth of the bones will be faster when compared to the growth of both tendon and muscles. Consequently, the muscle and the tendon will become taut which will result to pain. Children who engage in sports suffer from heel pain because they jump or run on hard surfaces. Factors that will increase the intensity of pain include injury to both muscles and bones, use of ill fitting shoes and excessive physical activity.
Other causes of heel pain in children are plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the ligament which is located between the sole of the foot and heel bone and Achilles tendonitis or inflammation of the tendon of Achilles. Stress fracture which is a result of excessive weight or solid impact on the heel bone and also a foot problem called bursitis are some heel pain causes.
Heel pain in children is usually felt in the area around the Achilles tendon. During the initial stage, the child may complain of pain after doing some physical exercise and will feel better if he takes some rest. After a while, swelling will take place in the heel which will likely be very sensitive that the child will allow no one to touch the area. There is also stiffness in the calf muscles especially when the child gets up from bed. You can also observe that the child will limp while he is walking due to the heel pain. Some kids have the tendency to develop the habit of tiptoeing.
Treatment for Heel Pain in Children
When you discover that your child would often experience heel pain, it would be important to consult a physiotherapist so that the problem is properly diagnosed. Usually, it is identified with the help of physical examination of the child’s leg as well as X-ray of the foot. It is the responsibility of the physiotherapist to ascertain the amount of activities which your child is allowed to do and the amount of rest that is necessary. These will completely depend on the condition of the heel. If in case, the pain is intolerable for the child, painkillers are often prescribed. When movement of the leg is affected or fracture is detected, splinting or casting should be done together with complete rest of the foot. Every time the child complains of pain at home, ice packs can be applied on the heel for about ten to fifteen minutes in order to provide pain relief. Doctors would also frequently advise the use of shoe inserts to be placed inside the shoes of the child temporarily. These have a traction effect on the tendon will help soothe the pain away. Stretching exercises and physical therapy are both beneficial in the management of pain.
Heel pain which occurs in children is not so much of a concern. So far, there is no evidence that suggests that heel pain has caused any kind of complication in the end. When heel pain is cured, the child will be able to engage in normal sports activities once more.