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Diagnose and Treat Heel Disorders at West Vancouver Foot Clinic
Heel pain originates deep within the foot, directly on the heel bone or within the bottom of the foot’s connective tissues, called the plantar fascia. Several layers of deep fatty tissue surround the heel bone, softening the impact of walking and running and protecting the bones and muscles of the foot. Pain can result when the superficial connective tissue called the plantar fascia becomes irritated or inflamed. This condition is known as plantar fasciitis. Schedule an appointment with the West Vancouver Foot Clinic today to treat and correct heel disorders in West Vancouver.
Plantar fasciitis can be extremely uncomfortable and painful if not met with proper care or treatment. There are several causes of plantar fasciitis or heel pain, including:
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Inadequate flexibility in the calf muscles
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Lack of arch support
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A sudden increase in activity level
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Spending too much time standing on the feet without rest
Inflammation
Most cases of heel pain are characterized by inflammation. As the arch of the foot collapses or sags, the plantar fascia will stretch and begin to pull at its attachment site on the heel bone. This process results in the tissues becoming irritated and then inflamed. Inflammation of the fascia is called plantar fasciitis.
Heel Spurs
A projection or growth of bone may be called a spur and can grow where the muscles of the foot attach to the bone. Heel spurs are soft, bendable deposits of calcium that are the result of tension and inflammation in the location that the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone.
Other Causes of Heel Pain
While injury, overuse or other temporary, mechanical causes can bring on discomfort in the heel, a painful heel may also accompany a more serious condition such as:
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Gout
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Arthritis
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Psoriasis
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Collagen disorders
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Nerve injuries
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Heel bone abnormalities
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Tumours
Illnesses like these and others must be diagnosed and treated separately.
Caring for the Painful Heel
In most cases, heel pain can be relieved without surgery. Treatment may include self-care, medications, physical therapy, cortisone infiltration and/or orthotics.
Orthotics
Orthotics at the West Vancouver Foot clinic are designed by creating a custom mould of the foot. The process begins with a thorough examination and biomechanical assessment of your feet by Dr. Mohamed, a qualified and trained professional. Impressions are then taken and a detailed prescription form is completed. Plaster casting is utilized to capture the impression of the foot in the corrected biomechanical position. A formed orthotic shell is then made from the captured plaster cast of the patient’s foot in a specialty lab.
Orthotics are also designed utilizing the Veriscan 3D foot scanner and the IPAD Structure Sensor 3D foot scanner, depending on the situation and the nature of the condition.
Stress Fractures
A stress fracture may occur to any bone in the foot and ankle area. This happens when the demand on the bone is greater than it can handle. People who suddenly or repetitively increase their weight-bearing activities are at greater risk of developing stress fractures, such as military recruits in basic training or athletes who have recently changed their activity level or type of shoe gear. Stress fractures can also happen to people who suddenly start exercising after a period of being sedentary and are using poorly supportive shoe gear or walking barefoot.
Weakness in the underlying architecture of the bone leads to fatigue, insufficiency, or pathologic fractures.
Walking boots are recommended to treat severe stress fractures.
