Friday 13 March 2015

What causes heel pain?

This is part one of two articles on   by our resident physio Lisa Hall 

What causes heel pain?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common heel pain causes.
Your plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot towards the toes.
Your plantar fascia acts as a passive limitation to the over flattening of you arch. When your plantar fascia develops micro tears or becomes inflammed it is known as plantar fasciitis.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of those injuries that magically seems to appear for no apparent reason. However, plantar fasciitis is caused by one of two methods. 
They are either traction or compression injuries. 
Plantar fasciitis is most often associated with impact and running sports, especially those that involve toe running rather than heel running styles. 
It is also commonly diagnosed in individuals with poor foot biomechanics that stress the plantar fascia. Flat feet or weak foot arch control muscles are two common causes of plantar fasciitis.

Traction Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis symptoms are usually exacerbated via "traction" (or stretching) forces on the plantar fascia. In simple terms, you plantar fascia is repeatedly overstretched. The most common reason for the overstretching are an elongated arch due to either poor foot biomechanics (eg overpronation) or weakness of your foot arch muscles.

Compression Plantar Fasciitis

Compression type plantar fascia injuries have a traumatic history. Landing on a sharp object that bruises your plantar fascia is your most likely truma.
The location of plantar fasciitis pain will be further under your arch than under your heel, which is more likely to be a fat pad contusion if a single trauma caused your pain.
The compression type plantar fasciitis can confused with a fat pad contusion that is often described as a "stone bruise".

To get more information and to find out about plantar fasciitis treatment options:  contact our highly experienced resident Physiotherapist, Lisa Hall :  http://www.physiofirstnewtown.com.au/
Contact:
Tel: Mob: 0401 059606
Facsimile: 02 95577619
Email: lisahall@physiofirstnewtown.com.au

  

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