This heel cushion is oftentimes referred to as the fat pad of the heel. Our fat pads can begin to shrink as we age for a number of different reasons, only some of which are preventable. When this happens, more force is exerted on our heel bone, which can lead to discomfort and other issues for our feet. The condition is called fat pad atrophy, and in today’s blog, we share some tips on how older adults can keep fat pad atrophy from slowing them down.

Causes Of Fat Pad Atrophy

As we noted in the introduction, there are a number of different reasons why you may experience some fad pad loss in your heels as you get older. Some of those causes include:

• Natural age-related degeneration
• Carrying extra weight
• Injury
• Repetitive stress
• Poor footwear
• Repetitive corticosteroid injections
• Underlying health conditions (Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.)

As you can see, some of these aspects are completely preventable, while others you’ll never be able to mitigate completely. Because the loss of this protective fat pad can lead to pain and force you to shy away from physical activities you enjoy, it’s important to be mindful of the ways you can mitigate the risk of the preventable causes.

Treating And Preventing Fat Pad Atrophy

Treatment and prevention of fat pad atrophy are very similar courses. Both treatment and prevention will focus on taking stress off the fat pad so that repetitive strain is less likely to aid in the degeneration process. Some ways to do this include:

Weight Loss – Losing just a little weight will take an immense amount of strain off your feet and heels.

Switch To More Supportive Shoes – Switching to a more comfortable shoe that better supports your heel and arch can allow the shoe to handle more of the stress of your body instead of forcing it upon the heel.

Orthotic Inserts – Generic or custom-fitted orthotic inserts can add additional padding to the heel area, in turn helping with weight distribution.

Activity Adjustments – We want you to remain active, but perhaps your fat pads would be better off if you moved away from certain high-impact activities. For example, instead of running for exercise, consider swimming laps at the pool.

Physical Therapy – PT can help to strengthen your feet and nearby supportive structures to help your feet better handle the stress that you throw at them.

Corticosteroid injections or a minimally invasive corrective procedure are also possibilities, but these are typically reserved for extreme cases that are not responding well to conservative care. The previously mentioned treatments usually provide enough relief that older adults can maintain a high level of activity without overburdening their heel area.

For more information about fat pad atrophy, or for some personalized assistance overcoming your unique foot or ankle issue, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (770) 475-2710.

The post How Active Older Adults Can Treat Heel Pain From Heel Pad Atrophy appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

Causes Of Fat Pad Degeneration

Expedited loss of the fat pads in our heels can lead to a few different foot issues, including fat pad syndrome and bone spurs in the heel. To prevent these issues and ensure every step remains comfortable, we want to shine a spotlight on four activities that may be putting excessive strain on your heel fat pads.

1. Unsupportive Shoes – We didn’t come out of the womb wearing shoes, so you certainly don’t need to wear shoes all the time in order to protect your heels. However, wearing the wrong shoe or a shoe that doesn’t provide the right support for the activity can lead to extra strain on your heel fat pad. High heels or unsupportive athletic shoes can either put added stress on certain areas of your feet or fail to provide enough protection during high-intensity activities, increasing your risk of heel fat pad loss.

2. Being Overweight – The more you weigh, the more stress that is channeled to your feet with each step you take. If you’re overweight or obese, your fat pads may degenerate faster as a result of this extra strain.

3. High-Impact Activities Without Ample Rest – We want you to exercise and challenge your body, but if you gravitate towards high impact activities and don’t give your feet enough time to recover after activity, you may be at risk of affecting the health of your heel fat pad. Box jumps and running can put additional pressure on our heels, and while they are a great way to physically challenge your body, be sure you give it some time off to recover after intense activity.

4. Watch Your Surfaces – It’s also wise to consider what surfaces you are exercising on. We understand that you’re not going to be able to take your basketball game outside to a grass surface, but harder surfaces naturally absorb less stress when we move, which puts more strain on your feet. If you’re training for a marathon or simply going for a run, consider running on a softer track surface as opposed to running on the sidewalk or road. Also, be sure to keep the above tip in mind and give your feet plenty of rest after intense activity on a hard surface as well.

The post Four Activities That Wear Down Your Heel Fat Pad appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.