Heel Pain
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Plantar Fasciitis
When we get a new patient in the office that's complaining of pain in their heels and arch, the most common culprit is plantar fasciitis (pronounced planter fash-e-itis). This condition is one of the many that will get worse if you don't seek treatment, so ignoring the pain is not to your advantage.
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Achilles Tendonitis
Named after this mythical hero, the Achilles tendon is a strip that runs from the heel bone up to the calf muscle to help the foot push off the ground when the calf muscle tightens.
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Tarsal Tunnel
Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tibial nerve, which runs through the ankle, becomes squeezed or is under abnormal pressure and it becomes inflamed.
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Nerve Pain
Two of the most common causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, but occasionally a diagnosis is not the end of the story.
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Heel Spurs
Heel spurs are bone outgrowths on the heel that can cause a considerable amount of discomfort and heel pain when it rubs on tendons and nerves.
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Over-Pronation
Pronation is a normal motion that our feet make as they walk. With each step, the heel touches the ground first, then the foot rolls forward to the toes, causing the ankle to roll inward slightly and the arch to flatten out.
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Sever's Disease
When a preteen or teen complains of heel pain, a frequent diagnosis is Sever's disease, which sounds much worse than it really is. This common growing pain is relatively short-lived and won't cause any long-term problems.
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Stress Fractures
Stress fracture symptoms include pain and swelling that worsen during activity and ease up when you're at rest. Sometimes the area over the bone might feel tender to the touch.
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Obesity
Multiple studies have linked a higher BMI (body mass index) with foot and ankle problems, and even amounts as small as an extra 10 pounds can cause issues.
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Cracked Heels
Cracked heels and heel fissures start out as dry skin and turn into a painful health problem. They occur when the skin on the edge of the heel becomes too dry, hardens into a callus and then starts to crack.
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Posterior Tibial Tendon
There's a tendon that runs from the ankle into the foot called the posterior tibial tendon that supports the arch and helps you walk.
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Peroneal Tendonitis
While athletes often experience peroneal tendonitis, it’s actually very common. It is caused by excessive stress on the peroneal tendon in the foot.
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Subtalar Joint Arthritis
Subtalar joint arthritis is arthritis in the joint below the ankle joint. This is the joint that moves your foot side to side.