Not ALL heel pain is plantar fasciitis

With 24 years clinical experience, Dr Foot knows a thing or two when it comes to heel pain—the causes and the common misdiagnoses.

He says, “The foot is a really complicated area of the body. There’s a lot more to the foot than just the fascia. So it stands to reason that not all heel pain can be attributed to the one condition—plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia ligament runs along the bottom of the foot. “Fasciitis” is Latin for ‘inflammation of the fascia’. Yet it’s NOT ALWAYS inflammation that’s the cause of heel pain.

Without the right diagnosis, how can we expect our heel pain to get better?

When making a diagnosis, clinicians need to consider ALL the possible causes of heel pain and not assume that every case of heel pain is plantar fasciitis.

Transcript

Not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis

Not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis. It can't be. Have a look at this foot. The foot and the leg is really complicated. Look at all these tendons, these bones, ligaments in this region. Look at the heel.

This is a really complicated area. It's one of the things that when I'm lecturing to other doctors, I'm talking to them about how very complex this region is. There's more that a fascia, so it stands to reason that it can't all be the one condition.

What we need to do is make sure that we diagnose the right condition. Now, fasciitis means an inflammation; it isn't always inflamed that's causing the pain. We need to make sure that we get the diagnosis right, so that we can head you in the right direction for treatment.

School shoes for kids – How to choose the right size

Blog, Kids Feet

Choosing a shoe size? How do you make sure you get it right in the era of self serve? How do you make sure the delightful 15 year old helping you at the shoe shop is getting it right?

Podiatrist Dr. Brenden Brown from Sydney-based clinic A Step Ahead Foot + Ankle Care shows you how to quickly and simply make sure you have the right fit for your child's feet!

School Shoes for Children

Our children spend 30 hours a week in school shoes, that's in excess of 15 000 hours in a school child's lifetime. Choosing the right shoe for your child is extremely important.

Poorly fitting children's shoes can be problematic and may lead to problems in adulthood such as hammer toes, ingrown toenails, corns on the feet, callus and possibly bunions. Poorly fitting shoe or unsupportive shoes may exacerbate foot problems.

These problems can be painful and may require treatment ranging from simple consultations with a podiatrist to surgery. It therefore makes sense to, where possible, ensure children’s shoes fit properly.

Generally, most podiatrists when fitting footwear to children for school would recommend you look for the following features.

There should be a child’s thumb width between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest toe
The sole of the shoe should be fairly straight as the foot is straight
The fastening mechanism should hold the heel firmly in the back of the shoe
The back part of the shoe should be strong and stable. This area is often referred to as the heel counter
The shoe should flex across the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe
The sole should not twist. They shouldn’t “wring out”
Lace up, Velcro or a buckle is best. Slip on shoes are not generally considered the best thing for long term use
Yes mum you are right! It is better for your feet if you do up your laces!
A Heel height greater than 1.5 cm should be avoided for long term use

How often do you need to buy new school shoes?

A school shoe should generally last nine months to a year. However you should realise that if you notice your child has a growth spurt it is wise to check to see if their foot has also grown, as the two will go hand in hand. After the age of three it is generally thought a child’s foot will grow about half a size every 6 months.

Large amounts of “wearing” noticed on the shoe, or shoes, that cause pain should be replaced.

You should not place a child in “hand-me-down” shoes.

Dr Foot’s No.1 Tip for Reducing Heel Pain

Blog, Heel Pain

Want to know the secret? Watch our video to discover Dr Foot’s No.1 tip for reducing heel pain.

Excruciating heel pain that just won’t let up can definitely slow you down. It’s a no-brainer that you want to find the best way to solve your heel pain (who wouldn’t?).

First things first, with a myriad of myths circulating about heel pain, it’s essential to get the right advice. For example, rest is not always best, going barefoot isn’t the answer and heel cushioning isn’t a cure for heel pain.

While there can be multiple reasons for heel pain, and it’s absolutely important to address the underlying cause—Dr Foot has one stellar tip for reducing heel pain that he loves to share.

Is All Heel Pain Plantar Fasciitis?

Blog, Heel Pain

Watch our video to find out what other foot-related conditions could be causing your #heel pain and what do to if, despite seeing a clinician, your heel pain still exists.

There are numerous cases of misunderstood, or misdiagnosed, heel pain. Problem is, not all heel pain is the same AND there could be many underlying causes. Plantar fasciitis is just one of them!

Plantar fasciitis refers to the ‘plantar fascia’—that’s the fibrous ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot, from the heel bone to the toes.

It acts as our in-built shock absorber, but sadly it doesn’t easily stretch, which can cause problems.

Plantar fasciitis is Latin for ‘inflammation of the plantar fascia’. This pain and inflammation is a result of pressure on the foot and micro tearing of the plantar fascia.

Transcript
Is all heel pain plantar fasciitis?

Hmm, you know I think it's important to let people know that not all heel pain is a heel spur or plantar fasciitis. When I lecture or teach other doctors about foot and heel pain, I remind them how really complicated feet are. With dozens of ligaments and tendons and bones, how can it be that all pain is from only one Condition? And the thing is, it's not.

Apart from fasciitis, it could be abductor hallucis, nerve entrapment, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis pain; there's literally half a dozen other conditions heel pain can be. If you're not getting better, it may be because you've misdiagnosed, and that's a sign that maybe you need another opinion.

Conditions

Heel Pain
Diabetes
Sports Care
Common Conditions
Corns and Callous
Cracked Heels
Ingrown Nails
Flat Feet
Plantar Warts
Fungal Nails
Tinea
Shin Splints
Other Conditions
Children

For uncompromising excellence our foot doctors can start helping you in a few ways:

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Contact us at 9673 2987 with questions we want to truly understand what’s happening at present with your foot and leg pain if you are ready we will set up your initial appointment.
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