HEEL PAIN

A natural approach – no orthotics, no surgery, no medication

What is Heel Pain?

“Heel pain is normally experienced on the underside of the heel, either central or just off to the inner heel. Often patients report of heel pain first thing in the morning on rising and/or a gradual increase in heel pain with prolonged standing or walking. Heel pain can also be felt further back around the edges of the heel, however the origin of this pain often lies central or just medial of the heel.”

What causes Heel pain?

Heel pain is caused when the plantar fascia is stretched beyond its normal ability resulting in micro tearing and inflammation at the base of the heel. What causes the stretching of the plantar fascia? As the foot collapses because of poor foot posture, injuries or just overuse, it puts excessive loads on the fascia resulting in micro tearing at the base of the heel.

How do you treat Heel pain naturally?

Foot Posture Centre’s approach is different from traditional orthotic based clinicians. Our goal is to find the cause, correct it then the pain subsides. We would need to determine which of the joints within the foot are misaligned, dropped or are restricted in movement. Often the talus (bone deep inside the ankle joint) has jammed forward and rotated inwards and we would need to apply foot mobilisation techniques to correct this. Correcting your foot posture and gait by using corrective exercises and stretches will be critical in resolving the heel pain.

A simple exercise you can do is to roll your foot over a tennis ball for about 3 minutes. This is a great way of freeing up soft tissue adhesions which will help reduce heel symptoms. Alternatively, another natural treatment is to roll your foot over a frozen plastic water bottle. This will help reduce inflammation.

To determine if we can correct your heel pain naturally without orthotics, medication or painful surgery, then call our office nearest you to discuss your case so that we can determine if a comprehensive consultation is needed for you.

FOOT FACTS

WARNING: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional podiatric advice. Treatment will vary between individuals depending on the diagnosis and presenting complaint. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following personal consultation with a Podiatrist.