Heel Pain Conditions and Causes

Heel Pain Conditions and Causes

Heel Pain Conditions and Causes

Heel pain is a common condition for athletes, but also for people who don't get a lot of exercise. This article contains an overview of several heel pain conditions and causes, and should help you get a clearer idea of which one you are suffering from.

One of the most common and well-known causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel bone (calcaneus) and the plantar fascia, which is the ligament that runs under the arch of the foot and connects the toes to the heel bone.

People suffering from plantar fasciitis usually feel a stabbing pain in their heel, especially during the first steps of the morning after they wake up. This pain is caused by the tightening of the plantar fascia overnight, and then the sudden stretch it undergoes when weight is put on it in the morning, causing micro-tears.

Heel spurs are often associated with plantar fasciitis, but the truth is that the presence of a heel spur does not necessarily mean that you have plantar fasciitis. Heels spurs are hooks of bone that can form on the heel, and they can be found in about 70% of people with plantar fasciitis, but also in many people who do not have that condition. Most of the time they do not cause pain, and in the case of plantar fasciitis the pain is caused by micro-tears and not heel spurs.

Achilles tendonitis is another form of heel pain, but concerns the Achilles tendon which connects the heel bone to the calf muscle. It is an inflammation of this tendon usually caused by strain from repetitive movements with high impact on the heel bone. Running, dancing, and basketball are just a few examples of activities that can cause this type of injury.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a heel pain condition similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. It is a compression of the posterior tibial nerve which runs from the inside of the ankle into the foot, and which is found in the tarsal tunnel. This condition is caused by something pressing against the posterior tibial nerve, for example a swollen tendon, a varicose vein, an injury that causes swelling in that area, or a bone spur.

Retrocalcaneal bursitis is an inflammation of a small fluid-filled sac called a bursa, found between the heel bone and the Achilles tendon. Bursae are found around most large joints in the body between bone and muscles or tendons, and they act as a cushion to reduce friction. Retrocalcaneal bursitis is caused by repeated trauma to the bursa, and the presence of Haglund's Deformity (or a "pump bump") increases the risk.

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