THE TRUTH ABOUT HEEL PAIN FROM ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS

PLANTAR FASCIITIS, ALSO KNOWN AS HEEL PAIN OR A HEEL SPUR, IS A MUSCULOSKELETAL CONDITION CAUSING PAIN UNDER THE HEEL OR INTO THE INNER ARCH OF THE FOOT.  MANY TIMES THIS CONDITION IS CONFUSED WITH IMPACT TRAUMA OR HEEL BRUISE BUT  IN REALITY IT IS CAUSED BY MECHANICAL OVER STRETCHING OF THE FIBROUS TISSUE IN THE ARCH.  

THE PAIN CAN DEVELOP SUDDENLY OR GRADUALLY OVER TIME.  IT IS MORE COMMON IN THE 4TH DECADE OF LIFE BUT CAN AFFECT ALL AGES.  IT OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER WEIGHT OR ARE INVOLVED IN REGULAR STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES.  SPORTS SUCH AS JUMPING AS IN BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE A GREATER INCIDENCE OF ARCH INJURIES.

THIS PARTICULAR INJURIES IS NOT ONE THAT IMPROVES USUALLY WITH TIME AND REST AND THE SIMPLE REASON IS THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP WALKING.  MOST PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM PLANTAR FASCIITIS EXPERIENCE EXTREME TENDERNESS ON THE FIRST FEW STEPS IN THE MORNING.  THIS IS DUE TO A POOLING OF INFLAMMATION BI-PRODUCTS AND SWELLING WHICH MUST BE MECHANICAL PUMPED OUT TO DECREASE THE PRESSURE AND THUS REDUCE THE PAIN.

WHILE PLANTAR FASCIITIS IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF HEEL PAIN, THERE ARE OTHER DISEASES AND CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS SUCH AS NERVE IMPINGEMENT, ARTHRITIS, TENDONITIS, ETC.  ONLY BY A THOROUGH CASE HISTORY AND EXAMINATION BY AN EXPERIENCED FOOT SPECIALIST SUCH AS A PODIATRIST, CHIROPODIST OR FOOT DOCTOR CAN AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS BE MADE.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF FOOT, HIGH-ARCHED, FLAT FOOT AND IN BETWEEN AND PLANTAR FASCIITIS CAN AFFECT ALL THREE TYPES.  THE REAL SKILL OF AN EXPERIENCED FOOT SPECIALIST IS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND THEN ESTABLISH THE CORRECT TREATMENT PLAN.  HIGH ARCHED INDIVIDUALS USUALL NEED A MORE RIGOROUS STRETCHING PLAN AND PEOPLE WITH FLAT FEET NEED A GRADUAL INCREASE IN SUPPORT.

PROVIDING THE HEEL WITH CUSHIONING SUCH AS SILICONE OR FOAM WHILE AVOIDING HARD FLAT SURFACES WILL REDUCE THE STRESS ON THE HEEL AND FAVOUR HEALING.  

NOT ALL ORTHOTICS ARE THE SAME.  FIRST IF THEY ARE NOT PRESCRIBED BY AN EXPERIENCED CLINICIAN WITH EXPERT KNOWLEDGE IN BIOMECHANICS AND PODIATRIC MEDICINE, YOU MAY BE DOOMED FROM THE GET-GO.  THERE ARE SEVERAL METHODS OF CASTING BUT THE LATEST, MOST ACCURATE METHOD OF CHOICE IS THE NON-WEIGHT BEARING, COMPUTERIZED LASER METHOD WHICH IS EXTREMELY ACCURATE, FAST, MESS-FREE AND PROVIDES THE FASTEST TURN-AROUND TIME TO PRODUCE THE FINISHED PRODUCT.  ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS PREFERS THIS METHOD.  IF YOU ARE NOT USING A TOP CUSTOM ORTHOTIC LAB THEN THE FINISHED PRODUCT, THE CUSTOM ORTHOTIC MAY BE COMPROMISED.  WE ONLY DEAL WITH THE BEST QUALITY CUSTOM ORTHOTIC LABS SO OUR PATIENTS WILL AQUIRE THE BEST ORTHOTICS POSSIBLE.

YOU UST TRY TO REST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND NEVER, EVER GO BAREFOOT.  USE OF PODIATRY PRESCRIBED SANDALS FOR USE AT HOME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO AID HEALING.  FOOT WEAR THAT IS TOO FLAT, TOO HIGH, TOO CUSHIONED OR TOO HARD CAN AGGRAVATE YOUR CONDITION.  YOUR FOOT SPECIALIST WILL ADVISE YOU ON THE CORRECT FOOT WEAR.

HISTORICALLY, MANY FOOT DOCTORS AND PODIATRISTS HAVE ADVOCATED THE INJECTIONS OF LOCAL ANAESTHETIC AND CORTISONE TO RELIEVE THE SYMPTOMS OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS.  THIS SYMPTOM RELIEF IS SHORT LIVED, USUALLY AS LITTLE AS A FEW WEEKS AND CAN IN ITSELF ALSO BE VERY PAINFUL AND DAMAGE THE TISSUE AND INCREASE THE CHANCE OF RUPTURE AND TEARING BY THREE-FOLD.  THIS SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN EXTREME CASES WHERE ALL OTHER METHODS HAVE FAILED.  THE SAME GOES FOR ANY SURGICAL PROCEDURE.  ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS IS AN ADVOCATE FOR PREVENTATIVE AND CONSERVATIVE FOOT CARE.  WE ALWAYS AVOID DRUGS, MEDICATION AND SURGERY WHENEVER POSSIBLE.  THERE IS NO DRUG OR SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT DOES NOT CARRY WITH IT RISK AND IN EXTREME CASES SEVERE INJURY AND OR DEATH.

MOST HEEL PAIN CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED IF PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND TREATED BY A SKILLED FOOT SPECIALIST. ALL OF THE FOOT SPECIALIST WHO WORK AT TORONTO FOOT CLINIC, ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND SKILLED IN ALL ASPECTS OF FOOT CARE.  WE WORK IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTH CARE FACILITY WITH A COMPLETE LINE OF THE LATEST PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PODIATRY TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK, EARLY TIL LATE AND CONVENIENTLY LOCATED LESS THAN 100 YARDS FROM THE BROADVIEW SUBWAY STATION.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE REQUIRES HONEST, COMPETENT AFVICE OR QUALITY FOOT CARE AND CUSTOM ORTHOTICS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AT 4-6-465-8737.  REMEMBER, WE ALWAYS TREAT OUR BELOVED PATIENTS LIKE FAMILY.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL FOOT CLINIC

416-465-8737

Toronto, ON Chiropodist Academy Foot and Orthotic

752 BROADVIEW AVENUE Toronto, ON M4K 2P1 

Across from the Broadview Subway | Professional Family Foot Care