With every step we take over the day, our feet deal with a lot of weight on a daily basis. Because of the amount of stress our heels are constantly under, it’s no wonder that they can become quite painful! Unfortunately for people who suffer from Haglund’s deformity, heel spurs and other heel problems, the pain can make walking even just a few steps feel unbearable. In our dossier, you can find all the information you need to know on how these heel conditions arise, and how to effectively alleviate the pain.
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The feet support the body’s weight and facilitate movement. The heel bone (Calcaneus) is the posterior part of the foot and performs crucial functions in everyday life. This bone is optimised to distribute bodyweight evenly over uneven surfaces. Excessive stress on the heel (such as running on hard surfaces) can lead to long-term bone degeneration. In mild cases, a patient...
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Our feet bear the weight of the body and facilitate the transfer of power from our lower legs. The ligaments, tendons and bones in our feet all serve crucial roles that allow for complex movements like standing, walking, running and jumping. Haglund’s deformity is most commonly caused by abnormalities in the bone and soft tissues of the feet. It is...
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The heel bone (known as the calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot and performs crucial functions in everyday life. It is anatomically structured to bear the weight of our body and optimised to distribute that weight evenly when walking or running on either even or uneven surfaces. Some patients can develop small bone growths on the heel, more...
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Work safety boots are essential for protecting our feet from occupational hazards and are part of virtually every manual labour job in Australia. Most safety boots are heavy, with reinforced tips that shield against potential damage to the toes. The soles are reinforced to protect against potential sharp objects on the ground from piercing the feet.
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With plantar fasciitis, the pain level and resilience of the foot are positively influenced by insoles.
Professor Dr Markus Walther
Chief physician at the center for foot and ankle surgery at the Munchen Harlaching clinic
The Achilles tendon can withstand the weight of around 1000 kilograms.
While heel pain is treated differently depending on the cause, there are a few main ways to treat it in any situation, including RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate), wearing proper-fitting shoes, using anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, wearing targeted insoles and heel pads and stretching the muscles around the affected area.
Heel pain can come from a range of issues, but the more common causes are plantar fasciitis at the base of the heel, achilles tendinitis at the back of the heel and bone spurs that aggravate the tendons and muscles in the heel.
If you've injured yourself or find that pressure causes pain, it's important to rest the heel and avoid strenuous exercise for a week or two. Stretching the heel and ankle, massage and gentle are recommended in this time.
Insoles have shown to be highly effective in treating a wide range of issues in the foot, ankles and legs. Wearing the correct insoles help to adjust posture and relive heel pain on a daily basis.
There is a range of cases where it's best to seek medical help for heel pain. These include (but are not limited to) increasingly severe pain, chronic pain (lasting more than 2 weeks), bleeding or bad bruising, disfigurement of the foot or when you're not able to stand on the heel without serious pain. If you're in doubt, call your GP to confirm the best way to proceed.
Heel spurs are small bony protrusions that can irritate the surrounding tissue and cartilage, causing inflammation, pain and discomfort. If you're experiencing heel pain, a doctor can refer you to an X-ray to check if there are heel spurs causing the pain.
Plantar fasciitis can last anywhere from 1-6 months, depending on treatment and severity. It's important to rest and recover the muscle while treating it for the most effective and lasting result.
Heel pain while walking can come from a wide range of causes including strained muscles, heel spurs or other injury. If the pain doesn't subside after 10 minutes, it's best to see your GP to diagnose and treat the problem.
Heel spurs never go away by themselves and must be treated. The good news is that in most cases, conservative treatment at home can see the spurs go away in 6-9 months, with more serious cases requiring surgical treatment.
Saturated fats and trans fats can directly affect heel and foot pain, and are best minimised. Additionally, excess weight can have a compounding effect on your heels and the rest of your body. Reducing fatty meats and processed foods is a good way to protect your heels and feet as well as lose weight for a great long-term treatment.
