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Heel spur syndrome is a condition that can develop due to changes in the thickness and elasticity of the heel. It is usually caused by the wasting away of the fatty tissue and muscle fibers that make up the padding on the soles of the feet.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of heel cup syndrome.
The heel pad is a thick layer of fabric that sits on the soles of the feet. It consists of dense fat pads surrounded by tough but elastic muscle fibers.
Every time you walk, run, or jump, your heels act like cushions, distributing your body weight, absorbing shock, and protecting your bones and joints.
You may not realize it, but your heels will last you a long time. Therefore, it is normal for them to wear a little over time.
Excessive wear can cause heel pads to shrink or lose elasticity. When this happens, they become less able to absorb shock. This is called heel syndrome.
With heel syndrome, standing, walking, and other daily activities can trigger pain, tenderness, and inflammation in one or both heels.
What are the symptoms of heel syndrome?
(Video) Heel Pain, causes and treatment, plantar fasciitis diagnosis and treatment.
What are the symptoms of heel syndrome?
Pain deep in the middle of the heel is the main symptom of heel syndrome. When you stand up, walk, or run, it may feel like you have a bruise on the bottom of your foot.
Mild heel syndrome is usually not noticeable all the time. For example, you may only feel it when you walk barefoot, walk, or run on a hard surface. You may feel pain when you press your toe against the heel of your foot.
Heel-heel syndrome is associated with heel wear. Many factors can contribute to the development of heel syndrome over time. These include:
- Aging.Due to the aging process, heel pads may lose some of their elasticity.
- foot structure and gait.If your weight is not evenly distributed over your heel as you walk, parts of the heel pad can wear out faster over time.
- overweight of the bodyCarrying extra body weight puts extra stress on the heel pad. This allows it to break down more quickly.
- plantar fasciitis.Plantar fasciitis makes it difficult for the heel to absorb and distribute the shock associated with activities like walking and running. This allows the heel pad to deteriorate faster.
- repetitive activities.Any activity where the heel repeatedly strikes the ground, such as running, basketball or gymnastics, can trigger inflammation leading to heel syndrome.
- hard surfacesFrequent walking on hard surfaces can increase the risk of heel syndrome.
- Inadequate footwear.When walking barefoot or running, the heels must absorb more shock than with shoes.
- fat pad atrophy.Certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, can contribute to shrinkage of the heel pad.
- Clues. Spurit can reduce the elasticity of the heel pad and contribute to heel pain.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. Your foot and ankle will also be examined. You can order an imaging test, such asbone scanor ultrasound to diagnose heel syndrome or rule out other possible causes of heel pain. If you don't have an orthopedist yet, oursFerramenta FindCare health linecan help you connect with doctors in your area.
Certain imaging tests can allow your doctor to examine the thickness and elasticity of the heel pad. A healthy heel cup is usually present1 to 2 centimeters thick.
Heel elasticity is assessed by comparing the thickness of the heel when the foot is loaded and when it is not. If the heel pad feels stiff and doesn't compress properly when you stand up, this could be a sign of a lack of elasticity. This can help your doctor determine if you have heel syndrome.
There is no cure for heel syndrome. Rather, the goal of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation caused by this condition.
Your doctor may suggest one or more of the following actions:
- Chill out.You can prevent heel pain by staying off your feet or limiting activities that cause heel pain.
- Heel pads and orthoses.Heel cups are shoe inserts designed to support and cushion the heel. You can also find orthotic soles that provide additional heel support or cushioning.versesmiorthosisThey are available online and at most drug stores.
- orthopedic shoes.Visit a podiatrist or shoe store that specializes in orthopedic shoes to find shoes with extra heel support.
- Medicine.Over the Counter (OTC) or RezeptAntiphlogistikumo Pain relievers can help relieve pain caused by heel syndrome.
- It is Freezing the heelIt can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. After activities that cause heel pain, place an ice pack on the heel for 15 to 20 minutes.
Heel syndrome is not the only cause of heel pain. There are other common medical conditions that can cause heel pain or tenderness, such as those listed below.
plantar fasciitis
Heel-to-heel syndrome is sometimes confused with plantar fasciitis.
plantar fasciitis, also known as plantar fasciosis, occurs when the connective tissue fibers called fascia that support the arch of the foot become weak and deteriorate.
Plantar fasciitis causes a dull, aching, or shooting pain in the heel. However, the pain is usually closer to the instep and inside of the heel than in heel syndrome, which affects the middle of the heel.
Another important feature of plantar fasciitis is that the pain worsens when you stand up after a period of rest, such as B. first thing in the morning. After a few steps, the pain usually goes away, but a long walk can bring it back.
One
Stress fractures of the heel bone
The heel bone, also called the heel bone, is a large bone at the back of each foot. Repetitive movements that stress the heel, such as B. running, can cause a fracture or fracture of the heel bone. This is called a stress fracture of the calcaneus.
Achilles tendon fractures cause pain and swelling around the heel, including the back of the foot, just below the ankle.
The pain caused by a stress fracture of the heel bone often gets worse over time. At first, you may only feel pain in and around your heel during certain activities, such as walking or running. Over time, pain can occur even when the foot is at rest.
Other causes of heel pain
Other diseases can also affect the heel. However, the pain may be different or appear in a different location than the pain caused by heel syndrome.
Other possible causes of heel pain include:
- Apinched heel
- bursitis
- Haglund's deformity
- Apinched nerve
- Neuropathy
- plantar warts
- sever's disease
- tarsal tunnel syndrome
- tendinopathy
- Tumor
The heel pad is a thick layer of fabric found on the soles on the back of the feet. When these pads lose their density and elasticity, heel syndrome can develop.
It usually occurs over time due to excessive wear and tear, repetitive activities, extra weight, or uneven distribution of weight while walking.
The main symptom of heel syndrome is deep pain or tenderness in the center of the heel, especially when standing or walking. These symptoms are usually manageable with treatment.