In my personal and professional life, in the sporting arena and the Podiatry clinic, heel pain is a common occurrence. 
It is said that the average human walks around the world more than three times over the span of their life. With 26 bones (and two sesamoids) and hundreds of tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and nerves in each foot, we are bound to encounter a foot problem sooner or later. One of the most common of these is heel pain!
Why live with heel pain? We can assess it and treat the pain.
Heel pain isn’t restricted to a certain gender or age group, it can be experienced across both genders and different ages. Two of the most common forms of heel pain are Plantar Fasciitis and Sever’s Disease.
If the first few steps of the morning are greeted with severe heel pain, it may be likely that you have plantar fasciitis. The pain often eases by the time you’ve had your breakfast but may return later in the day once you’ve been active for a while. Other symptoms can include tenderness, burning and a “bruise like” feeling in the heel. The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that plays a shock-absorbing role when you walk. It also has an important function in supporting the arch of your foot. For different reasons such as overuse or your foot type, the plantar fascia can become irritated and inflamed – thereby resulting in heel pain.
But for children, heel pain may have a different origin. Children between the ages of 8 to 13 often experience Sever’s Disease. Although the name is off putting (its official name is Calcaneal Apophysitis), this is a natural growth process that many of us go through as our bones develop. The growth plate behind the heel isn’t fully developed at this age and again can be irritated and inflamed – resulting in heel pain. Children who experience this pain are often running and jumping and generally very active. Whilst this is a common occurrence, Podiatrists can reduce the symptoms. Don’t let your child put up with heel pain.
Podiatrists across New Zealand deal with heel pain on a daily basis. There are various treatment options available which can help with the issue. One of the first steps includes visiting your Podiatrist for the correct diagnosis and a customised treatment plan.
If you have any queries or topics for discussion, let me know. Keep an eye on the blogs and I’ll see you soon!
Jason