HEEL PAIN

By Marie Butler,
Podiatrist: Mornington Foot Clinic
(03) 5975 9977
http://www.morningtonfootclinic.com.au

Do you suffer from pain on the sole of the heel? It may have happened gradually, with no particular cause and now worsened to the stage of causing a limp, particularly when getting up first thing in the morning or after a period sitting. Pain under the sole (plantar surface) of the heel is a common complaint affecting sporting people, those who stand for long periods at work, or even just when increasing your walking activities.

Plantar Fasciitis is a common reason for heel pain. The Plantar Fascia is a tough ligamentous type structure which originates on the plantar surface of the heel, travels under the arch of the foot, dividing into slips which attach into the bases of the toes. The Plantar Fascia is responsible for stabilizing the foot as the heel lifts from the ground during propulsion. It has been previously thought that inflammation of the structure occurs due to flattening of the arch thus stretching and micro tears to the plantar fascia. New research is showing that the Plantar Fascia is made up of tissue similar to cartilage where it attaches to the heel and that pain may be due to compressive forces resulting in damage similar to what can be seen in cartilage wear and tear within a joint.

Plantar Fasciitis may be caused by excessive rolling in of the feet, pronation, which causes stretching and compression of the soft tissues under the heel. Tight calf muscles or poor choice of footwear may result in increased pronation forces and inadequate cushioning for the heel. Terrain such as hills, uneven sand or tracks, or increase in walking speed, may all contribute to abnormal forces in the Plantar Fascia.

Some people may have an abnormally large spur of bone under the heel (calcaneum) ,which may be more prone to irritation from compression. These usually become more painful with increased standing, rather than immediately after a period of sitting. Other structures including a nerve, bursa, and fat pad may become irritated, and thus the source of chronic plantar heel pain. Some heel pain may be related to certain Inflammatory Arthritic conditions, particularly if the pain affects both feet and there is a history of such arthritis elsewhere in the body.

As there can be many structures involved in heel pain, accurate diagnosis of your condition may require use of an X-ray and Ultrasound scan which will show any sign of boney heel spur or thickening and fluid in the soft tissues. Assessment of your gait and running by a Podiatrist may assist in finding the likely cause of any abnormal biomechanical factors which may be contributing to your ongoing heel pain.

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis/Chronic Plantar Heel Pain may include some or all of the following:

• Ice - to reduce inflammation and decrease pain
• Stretching – of the calf muscles to reduce tension in the plantar fascia
• Strapping – to support the arch, and compress the heel
• Heel cushion pad – if heel spur, fat pad and compression forces are the source of the pain
• Massage – to loosen tight calf or plantar fascia and assist in reducing inflammation
• Orthotics – excessive pronation and lowering of the arch may contribute or aggrevate, these will usually incorporate thick cushioning for the heel
• Footwear – with increased pronation control features, heel elevation and cushioning
• Night stretch splint – maintaining the foot in a position of stretch for the plantar fascia and calf may reduce morning pain after sleeping
• Injection – in cases not responding to more conservative measures, injection of corticosteroid may be necessary to reduced chronic pain and inflammation.

This information was produced by the Marie Butler - To visit their website please click here.

MOVING MARCH 2008

Dear valued customers, we are please to inform you that we will be moving to a much larger and more convenient premises in the future. Although we are moving, it is only 20meters to the right. Currently, we are located at 361, the new location will be at 365-367 Nepean Hwy, Frankston. The new premisis will have more treatment rooms, larger rehabilitation studio and pilates facilities as well as much more easily accessible car parking spaces.

TSIC NEWSLETTER PROMOTIONS

Thank you to everyone that entered their names in the TSIC Newsletter Promotion for their chance to win 1 in 6 coniditioning programs with an exercise physiologist. The winners of the promotion are:

• Gail Smith
• Linda Smith
• Carrin Rolley
• Teena Porra
• Karen Becker
• and Sue Pearson

Please contact the Practice Manager Olivia Martin to claim your prize by calling 9783 9990 or via email on olivia@tsic.com.au.

For everyone that didn't win a prize, we are now starting to run a second promotion. Entry into the new competition gets you a chance to win a pilates start up pack to the value of $245, A start up includes 5 sessions consisting of:

• 1x Real Time Ultrasound Session with a Physiotherapist.
• 2x One on One Sessions of Pilates in the BodyWise Pilates Studio.
• and 2x Group sessions of Pilates in the BodyWise Pilates Studio.

For your chance to enter simply click here to access the form and fill out your details on the entry page.