City Footcare NYC
Podiatric Medicine & Surgery
We treat all problems of the foot and ankle.
Heel Pain
Definition:
Heel pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the heel causes extreme discomfort. The most common cause of pain in the heel is plantar fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation caused by excessive stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia.
The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous connective tissue, like a ligament, which runs along the bottom surface of the foot. It attaches at the bottom of the heel bone and extends to the ball of the foot at the attachment to the metatarsals and toe joints.
Repetitive forces can cause tearing of the plantar fascia which leads to inflammation and pain. He can also lead to heel spurs.
The plantar fascia also can tear in the arch causing arch pain.
Cause:
Plantar Fasciitis often leads to heel pain, heel spurs, and/or arch pain. The excessive stretching of the plantar fascia that leads to the inflammation and discomfort can be caused by the following:
- Over-pronation (flat feet) which results in the arch collapsing upon weight bearing
- A foot with an unusually high arch
- A sudden increase in physical activity
- Excessive weight on the foot, usually attributed to obesity or pregnancy
- Improperly fitting footwear
Over-pronation (flat feet) is the leading cause of plantar fasciitis. Over-pronation occurs in the walking process, when a person’s arch collapses upon weight bearing, causing the plantar fascia to be stretched stretched and/or torn. This can occur at the insertion into the heel bone or within the substance of the plantar fascia away from the heel bone.
Most commonly symptoms of plantar fascia present as pain on the inside of the heel bone where the plantar fascia ligament attaches.
The pain is often acute either first thing in the morning or after a long rest. This occurs because while resting the plantar fascia starts to heal and return back to its original anatomical shape. When force is applied after rest, it re-tear is the area that has previously healed. As the day progresses and the plantar fascia continues to be stretched, the pain often subsides.