Sound Foot Care Center of CT
148 East Ave, Suite 2G
Norwalk, CT 06851
Ph. 203.866.7686
Fax. 203.866.7685

­Steps to Overcoming Heel Pain

If your heels hurt, you’re not alone—the American Podiatric Medical Association reports that over 16 percent of Americans regularly experience heel pain.

Dr. Ronald D. Jensen, APMA president, explains that “Heel pain is generally the result of faulty biomechanics that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it.” Pounding your feet daily on hard surfaces, abnormal gait, being overweight, a foot injury or wearing poor-fitting shoes can cause this stress, which can then lead to inflammation, redness and swelling.

Many people try to ignore the early signs of heel pain and continue their daily lives, most likely performing the activities that are causing the problem. But left untreated, a sore heel can worsen and become a chronic condition. And because the heel bone is the largest of the 26 bones in the foot, it’s important to address the issue right away with your podiatrist.

The most frequent cause of heel pain is inflammation of the plantar fasciitis, a band of tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. This “shock-absorber” supports your foot’s arch, but when put under too much stress, can stretch and tear causing pain under the heel and inflammation.

Also to blame are heel spurs, bony growths underneath the heel bone, Achilles tendinitis, and excessive Pronation, an uneven inward motion while walking.

To avoid heel pain, the APMA advises that you always wear shoes that fit well and wear the proper shoes for each activity, do not wear shoes with excessive or unevenly worn heels or soles, and stretch the heel well before and after exercising. Fortunately, if detected early, heel pain can be successfully treated with several noninvasive treatment options performed by your podiatrist.

At Sound Foot Care of Connecticut, we target the individual causes of your heel pain, and will devise a personal plan of conservative therapies to stop the pain and prevent it from recurring. We also can prescribe and make custom orthotics and insoles to support and gently reposition your feet for better foot function.

But if chronic heel pain is still a problem in your life, new procedures can be the answer. One option, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to eliminate heel pain. Dr. Greenberger is one of only a few surgeons certified to perform the state-of-the-art ESWT procedure. The effective treatment offers fewer potential complications than traditional heel pain treatments and a faster return to normal activity.

If you think you may be suffering from a form of heel pain, call Dr. Greenberger and make an appointment today so we can start you back on the road to pain-free heels!

Information provided by The American Podiatric Medical Association.

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