Treating Heel Pain

Heel pain is one of the most common sources of chronic foot pain, as research suggests about five percent of the population is plagued by the condition, and it’s even more common in athletes and the elderly. Poor footwear choices often contribute to the onset of foot pain, and that includes not wearing a shoe with ample foot support. We understand that your favorite pair of shoes may not have a very cushioned sole, but if that’s the case, consider investing in an orthotic insert.

A recent study decided to take a closer look at the effectiveness of orthotic inserts for managing and treating heel pain. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 19 previous studies involving 1,660 participants. After looking at the data, researchers found evidence that orthotic shoe inserts worked better than sham inserts at reducing pain after people had worn them for more than two months. They also found that custom orthotics were slightly better at easing pain than prefabricated versions, but they agreed that this evidence was not very strong, so patients could opt for the cheaper prefabricated versions.

“Our finding that foot orthoses can effectively reduce pain suggests that they are a valid treatment option for plantar heel pain,” said lead study author Glen Whittaker, a podiatry researcher at La Trobe University in Victoria, Australia. “Furthermore, because we found that contoured prefabricated foot orthoses are as effective for plantar heel pain as customized foot orthoses, prefabricated foot orthoses should be used initially rather than customized foot orthoses because they cost less and are immediately available.”

How Orthotic Inserts Work

There are two main ways that orthotic shoe inserts help to prevent heel pain. For starters, shoe orthotic inserts help to reduce heel pain by redistributing pressure away from the bottom of the heel to the arch of the foot. Secondly, shoe inserts can help to prevent the patient’s foot arch from dropping, which can relieve pressure in the plantar fascia, a common contributor to most cases of heel pain.

Researchers also noted that orthotic shoe inserts are only one piece of the puzzle, and patients should combine them with other treatment options, like physical therapy, shoe modification and anti-inflammatory medications. So if you are dealing with heel pain, consider grabbing some orthotic inserts to go along with some other treatment options to try and keep heel pain at bay.

The post Heel Pain and Orthotic Inserts appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

Why Is My Heel Hurting?

Plantar fasciitis involves a thickening of the band of tissue under your arch known as the plantar fascia. Statistics suggest that roughly 70 percent of heel pain involves an injury to or irritation of the plantar fascia, but that still leaves 30 percent of heel pain cases that aren’t caused by the condition. So what else could be causing your heel pain?

Here’s a look at some other problems that present similar symptoms and involve pain in the heel region:

Heel Bruise – Did you step on a pebble, miss a step going down the stairs or jump from a small distance? There’s a chance you simply suffered a heel bruise. Do your best to let your feet have a rest while it heals.

Heel Bursitis –  Inflammation of the bursa on the bottom of the heel can also lead to pain. This is one of the more commonly misdiagnosed conditions as plantar fasciitis. Heel bursitis tends to get worse with activity, while pain tends to lessen with activity in plantar fasciitis, so this is one way to help determine what you might be dealing with.

Heel Fracture – Similar to a heel bruise, a heel fracture occurs when great force is exerted in the foot. Odds are you’ll know if you suffered a fracture, but it doesn’t always take a lot of force to break a bone as we get older.

Baxter’s Nerve Impingement – This condition involves compression or damage to the small branch of nerves that run on the inside of your heel and onto the bottom of your heel. Physical therapy, a cortisone injection or a nerve release operation can help resolve pain.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome – Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a more complicated form of Baxter’s Nerve Impingement. It involves compression of the set of nerves alongside the ankle, and is handled in a similar manner as Baxter’s Nerve issues.

Heel Bone Cyst– Heel bone cysts are very rare, but they can occur. A cyst in this region can weaken the bone and lead to swelling and pain with activity. A doctor can diagnose the condition with a CT scan, and a biopsy may be ordered to determine if the growth is cancerous. Surgery is typically used to resolve the problem.

The post When Your Heel Pain Isn’t Plantar Fasciitis appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.