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Home Tag: "heel pain" (Page 2)

Tag: heel pain

14Feb

is a common described as pain or discomfort experienced anywhere in the rear of the foot. It is estimated that every year around two million Americans suffer from heel pain, with athletes and seniors being the usual victims. While heel pain may be prevalent in the general population, it is not in any way normal. Neglect to any heel pain symptom can lead to bigger problems such as reduced mobility and capacity to enjoy life.

Read More “What Causes Heel Pain?”
16Jan

heel painIf you spend all day standing or walking a lot, you are at a higher risk for . Factory workers, teachers, and other occupations that are always on their feet are especially vulnerable. They would come to the clinic and complain about a stabbing pain that is usually worse in the morning. The pain normally subsides as they get up and move, but it might return after extended periods of standing or when they stand up after sitting.

Read More “What Causes Heel Pain When Standing Or Walking”
17Jul

high heelsStatistics show that one of the major factors leading to is wearing high heels. A third of the women suffer from permanent problems due to prolonged wear of high heels. High heels are fashionable, make you feel sexier and taller, but impaired stability increases the risk of forefoot injury, injury, heel pain, foot arch strain, sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis, posture, and gait problems. In addition, there is excess stress placed on the lower extremities and back and affects the balance, posture, and gait.

Read More “Preventing Damage from High Heels”
heel pain
8Dec

heel pain

Heel pain in foot is a common complaint among runners. However, can be a symptom of several ailments such as Achilles tendonitis, flexor tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, and . A podiatrists' first question is if the pain is intense when you take the first steps in the morning or when you stand. Heel pain is severe in the morning, although a runner can easily walk it off and forget about the pain until the next morning. This condition requires understanding the physiology of the healing process. The tissues that are rope-like and fibrous are in a daily flux of breaking down for runners due to increased pressure on the feet. Since plantar fascia, and flexor need to withstand the body weight during running. Deceleration forces tearing of the collagen fibers, but the fibers repair themselves. Heel pain from running can be because of running far or running too fast, but when given time, the tendons and tissues come back stronger.

If the tissues are not allowed time to recover, the injuries vary from chronic or acute injuries. If you are chronically injured, the body reacts by producing collagen in a disorganized manner. It causes the uncooked collagen fibers to appear like cooked spaghetti at the bottom of the pot in a process known as collagen cross-linking. Before maturity, the collagen fibers are delicate and healing occurs at night as we sleep. During such long hours of resting, ensure proper positioning of the tendons to allow cross-linking without re-tearing. A light stretch influences alignment of new collagen with extensive cross-linking before the maturation stage. Gentle stretch during the immobile periods prepares the tissues for weight bearing throughout the night.

Prevention of heel pain can be done by:

  • Gently stretching before getting out of bed.
  • Wear a night splint to stretch the plantar and heel of the foot.
  • For the first steps in the morning, wear a supportive sandal or shoe. If you have an Achilles problem wear a high-heeled shoe. If you suspect plantar fasciitis, wear soft arch-supporting sandals.

On the first sign of heel pain, do the following

REST: Do not run, treadmill, or walk. Try exercises that will not put pressure on the heel; such as yoga, biking, weightlifting, and swimming.

ICE: Ice a bottle of water and roll it over the arch every evening for 20 minutes.

STRETCH: The calf needs to be stretched multiple times throughout the day using a belt or a towel and at least 30 seconds before getting out of bed. Perform the runners stretch throughout the day for a minute each time.

WEAR SUPPORTIVE FOOTWEAR: Avoid going barefoot; your shoes should be rigid and should bend at the toes. Grab your shoe upside down and try bending it. If it folds in the middle then it will cause pain, so throw it away. Lightweight shoes are good but they break down within a short time. Train in good shoes to avoid plantar fasciitis and if the shoes wear down change them to decrease the chances of getting injured.

If the above measures do not reduce heel pain from running in a few weeks, visit a . The podiatrist will look further into the cause of the heel pain and treat it accordingly. Other treatment options to explore include the use of night splints, anti-inflammatory medications, prefabricated or custom , surgery, , or cast boots.   If you have any questions, or need to see a foot doctor in Houston, please contact our office in the Houston, TX area. Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale will answer any of your foot and ankle related questions.

plantar fasciitis6
17Feb

plantar fasciitis6

This is a common that is widespread in middle-aged adults, which one can wish away. The pain manifests itself when taking the first steps in the morning. The plantar fascia ligaments are the shock absorbers of your feet and when they are inflamed or damaged they can cause pain in one or both heels. Several treatment options are effective when tailored to the patient's preferences and risk factors. Problems resulting in plantar fasciitis include hard walking/running surfaces, an increase of weight-bearing activity, worn shoes and increased intensity of activity. Early detection of the problem means a shorter course treatment with a high probability of success with conservative treatments.

Some treatment of includes

  1. Using lavender essential oil

According to a study in 2015, the lavender essential oil contains anti-inflammatory properties used in treating pain caused by inflammation. Dilute a drop of the essential oil in a oil carrier such as coconut or olive oil and massage at the bottom of your feet. Adding a few drops of the oil in a warm foot bath is also recommended.

  1. Plenty of rest

This has been discovered to be an effective treatment that works best. For active adults who require walking and standing long, they might have a challenge complying with this requirement. You must have an outlined rest plan and find alternative activities to avoid aggravating the pain. If possible, avoid working on hard surfaces.

  1. Wear supportive shoes

Wear shoes with a low heel that provides good , especially if you are on your feet most of the time. The appropriate shoes help support the plantar fascia and prevent inflammation. If you are in sports it is important to wear the right shoe to avoid experiencing from running.

  1. Use

Most medical practitioners recommend footpads or orthotic shoe inserts, especially if you have high arches, to distribute weight evenly. You can get ready-made orthotics available in pharmacies or request custom made orthotic inserts from your .

  1. Stretching

Stretching corrects various dysfunctional factors such as tightness of the foot muscles and improves the flexibility of the calf muscles. There are stretching techniques that help relieve plantar fasciitis. Calf stretches, stretches, and towel stretches are some stretches that should be done in the morning and several times a day. For towel stretches, roll the towel and pull both ends when placed under the ball of your foot.

  1. Wear night splint

Night splints relieve pain by stretching the calves and arches overnight. If you have had plantar fasciitis for more than six months, these are recommended for you. They are available in soft and hard models and can be used from one to three months.

  1. Massage

Simple massage techniques soothe pain in the heel. Use thumbs to massage the heels and arches starting from the balls of the feet towards the heel. A golf ball can be used to massage the arches. Put the foot on the golf ball and roll the golf ball under your arch. Hang on a stable support item while doing this.

  1. Use an ice pack

Ice reduces inflammation and acts as a good massage aid. With a thin towel and cloth cover your ice pack and hold over the painful area for 15 to 20minutes; repeat this for at least three-four times a day. You can also roll the foot under the ice pack like the golf ball example.

  1. Lose weight

Extra weight adds pressure on the plantar fascia and losing a few pounds relives off the pressure. Work with a doctor who can put in place a plan that focuses on regular exercise and a balanced diet.

  1. Use NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation such include ibuprofen; they relieve pain caused by the inflamed plantar fascia. Only use the recommended dosage and consult a doctor to understand the interactions with other medications.

  1. Apply TENS therapy

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), uses low voltage electrical stimulation to relieve pain. This treatment is non-invasive and can be done at home using a TENS unit or it can be done by a professional.

If the pain does not respond to home treatments seek medical assistance from foot specialists at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center. Additional testing and X-rays can be done to rule out other causes of foot pain such as a . A doctor can use steroid injections and physical therapy when dealing with plantar fasciitis.

foot pain
4Feb

What Causes ?

More than fifty percent of runners suffer from an injury every year. Every elite runner knows that being sidelined for running injuries, especially , , and the , is disappointing. People think running injuries occur because they increased the distance or intensity, or they did not stretch before and after running among other reasons. Some of these reasons aggravate an already underlying problem.

Most injuries are due to biochemical imbalance which causes the breakdown of the body due to subjective repetitive load causes. Biochemical imbalances cause muscle weakness and other imbalances that cause running injuries include

foot pain

Muscle Flexibility Imbalances

A tight muscle is a common reason for a running injury. It is very possible to do a few stretches and get back running without pain. Simple, right! No, it's not because the stretches help you re-align a muscle or tissue and you are back running again. The main question is what was the cause of the tight muscle? First, you need to find out why the muscle is overworking or tightening because stretching is a temporal solution. A tight hamstring may be as a result of weak abdominal muscles or glute muscle. These might be forcing the hamstring to compensate and with a few stretches you do not solve the weak abs or glutes and the problem might recur.

Soft Tissue Imbalances

This is complex, but changes in muscle tension can trigger points of fascia tightness. Muscle tension affects how the body functions, but with regular massage, the muscles relax.

Structural Imbalances

The body is not perfectly symmetrical; that is the right side of the body is not the same as the left side. People who cope well have minor asymmetries of the body depending on the number of differences. Others have severe structural imbalances that need more attention to avoid overstraining causing injuries from time to time.  

Muscle Strength Imbalances

For optimal functioning of the body, a balance between the inside and outside, the right and left side, the bottom and top, and the front and back of the body should be maintained. If the muscles of the right leg are weaker the muscles of the left leg will have difficulties. Unfortunately, there is never enough exercise to strengthen your muscles as you would expect. It is important to note that every joint in your body is affected when you work on one muscle. Effective muscle exercises need to be tailored individually for running purposes.

Some common running injuries include

Plantar fasciitis

This is an irritation of the fibrous tissue at the base of the heel due to forced strain on the plantar fascia. One experiences an arch pain or heel pain and the foot hurts with every step making running very difficult. This injury is common with runners who have very low or very high arches because the plantar fascia is forced to stretch. The pain caused by plantar fasciitis can continue for months and even years before completely healing so it should be treated as soon as possible.

Achilles tendon pain

The is the strongest and thickest tendon connecting the back of the heel and calf muscles. The is the painful inflammation of the tendon. The pain is common in the morning or with activity. Avoid training amidst this injury because the pain will eventually hinder the ability to jog lightly. Runners who have tight, weak calves are vulnerable to this injury.

Choosing the right running shoe is one of the protective ways in which runners can safeguard themselves from injuries. Correct your biomechanics to decrease the probability of injuries.