Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis

For those patients who complain of heel problems, the pressure map normally shows up a large white/blue area on the heel, which is not localised on the heel like on the pressure map for the "Normal Feet", but instead the heel pressure clearly continues up along the support on the side of the foot.

Heel pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the heel causes extreme discomfort. Generally, the heel with the highest degree of pressure indicated on the pressure map will be the heel that has gives the patient the most problems.

The high-pressure area around the heel is not localised just on the heel. Extremely high pressure goes all the way up the side of the foot and sometimes even up to the metatarsal area.

There are two different categories of heel pain. The first is caused by excessive impact and pressure on the heel of the foot. This condition can be caused from shoes with heels that are too low, a thinned out fat pad in the heel area, or from a sudden increase in activity.

Plantar fasciitis is also a very common diagnosis of heel pain, which is usually caused from a biomechanical problem, such as flat feet, a foot with an unusually high arch, a sudden increase in physical activity, improperly fitting footwear or excessive weight on the foot, usually attributed to obesity or pregnancy.

Between the heel bone and stretching to the front of the foot is a strong ligament, called the plantar fascia. This ligament works like the string of a bow, flexibly stretching under pressure, thus reducing and supporting the body weight. The plantar fascia forms an articulated structure together with the Achilles tendon, pivoting on the heel bone. For this reason, the stretching of both the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon has an effect on the heel bone.

The bottom of the foot usually hurts near the inside of the foot where the heel and arch meet. The pain is often acute either first thing in the morning or after a long rest, because while resting the plantar fascia contracts back to its original shape. As the day progresses and the plantar fascia continues to be stretched, the pain often subsides.

With a flat foot condition, the constant pulling of the plantar fascia affects the heel bone from the direction of the sole. This results in "periostitis" where the ligament joins the bone, which can eventually induce a spur-like bone formation on the heel bone - known as a "heel spur".

Treatment: The built in modules in the Pedikom restorative orthotics will re-distribute the body weight over the three points on the sole as demonstrated by the pressure map for the "Normal Feet". This process will relieve the excess pressure on the heel.

Plantar Fasciitis is a secondary foot problem. As the built in modules in the Pedikom orthotics push the bones, joints, ligaments and muscles back into the correct alignment, this gradually reverses the patients base foot problem and the symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis will eventually disappear.

To address any heel spur problem, a foot support with a hole is prescribed, thus relieving the area of the periosteum that is under pressure. If it causes periostitis, a compress, rest and medication to reduce inflammation are suggested.