Different types of Heel Pain and Spurs

Heel pain is very common in Germany, but there are a number of different forms of heel pain, including Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spur Syndrome, Sever's Disease, Bursitis, Dry Cracked heels and also pain at the back of the heels, a condition called Achilles Tendonitis. By far the most common problem is Plantar Fasciitis. This is the inflammation of the plantar fascia - a band of tough fibrous tissue running along the sole of the foot. It occurs when small tears develop in the plantar fascia, leading to inflammation, swelling, soreness and heel pain. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by various factors such as inadequate or inappropriate footwear, sudden weight gain, or a particular exercise or activity. Also a poor gait pattern (i.e. the way you walk) can play a role with this condition. It is normal for heel pain to affect only one foot at a time. Chronic heel pain often leads to the formation of a build-up of bone (this is a called a "spur") at the point where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone. This is why some medical people refer to plantar fasciitis as heel spur syndrome. Another term used is Policeman's Heel, because of the hard boots and hard surfaces police often walk on.

Anatomy of the foot:

The plantar fascia ligament branches out from the heel bone like a fan, connecting the heel to the base of the toes. When the foot moves during walking the plantar fascia stretches and contracts. The plantar fascia helps to maintain the arch of the foot in comparable to the string of a bow maintaining the the bow's arch. The most notable and obvious symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain under the heel. Most severe in the middle of the heel and in some cases it can radiate along the sole of the foot. The pain is most severe when walking first thing in the morning or after a period of rest. As walking continues the pain may diminish. However some degree of pain remains present on movement, but the pain turns into a dull ache. Heel spur or Fersensporn may disappear when resting for a while, when the plantar fascia is more relaxed. Plantar fasciitis is caused by the repetitive over-stretching of the plantar fascia. If the tension on the plantar fascia is too much this over-stretching causes micro tears in the tissue. This in turn causes the plantar fascia to become inflamed and painful and leads to heel pain and spurs.

Prevention of heel pain:

Factors that help prevent plantar fasciitis and reduce the risk of recurrence include: exercises to make the muscles of the lower leg and ankle more supple. Maintaining a normal body weight. Avoiding high heeled and/or unsupportive footwear. Using orthotic insoels and arch supports in your footwear. Some daily morning stretches of plantar fascia and Achilles tendons.

Shockwave Therapy for heel spurs

ESWT is a non-invasive procedure for heel pain and heel spurs. It is performed on an outpatient basis or in a clinic under local anesthesia. The procedure lasts approximately 10 minutes for each heel. During the treatment the physician targets and directs therapeutic shockwaves to the affected area. The treatment may take from 2 to 4 months to be fully effective. Your doctor will schedule continued visits and post-ESWT continuance therapy. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, or ESWT, treats chronic heel pain syndrome (Plantar Fasciitis) and other tendonitis conditions. The shockwaves stimulate a healing response in the affected tissue and ligaments. The result is a reduction in inflammation and pain from the affected area. Patients experience a short recovery period, often with few or no side effects. Some patients experience relief from the pain right away, but in others, the full results from a single treatment may be experienced a few months.

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