Accessibility Tools

Heel Pain

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.