Stubborn Heel Pain

Not responding to traditional treatments for Plantar Fasciitis such as stretching, ice, massage, orthotics, even injections?

Stop getting frustrated….maybe it is the wrong diagnosis?

Plantar Fasciitis is often a chronic problem that causes a tremendous amount of anxiety because many fail to respond to traditional treatments. All too often you are left with months/years of pain that interferes with your daily activity, from standing to running. The pain impacts your life and nothing that your physician, chiropractor, or physical therapist prescribes, relieves your symptoms.

Are you at risk for heel pain? Risk factors include:

High impact activities, such as running, jumping, aerobics, etc.

Being on your feet all-day

Obesity

Poor footwear (high heels, worn running shoes, no arch support, stiff heels)

Flat-feet or high arches

Middle-aged and older

The textbook symptoms of “Plantar Fasciitis” include pain with the following activities: taking your first step in the morning, getting up after prolonged sitting, walking/running, and prolonged standing. If you seek medical care for these symptoms, you will automatically be given the diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis. But if traditional treatments do not work for many, maybe it is not the treatments, but the wrong diagnosis?

We are now realizing that the symptoms of heel pain are far too often not caused by the plantar fascia. Instead of assuming, a complete mechanical assessment MUST be performed.

A mechanical assessment always starts with ruling out the low back as the cause of symptoms. The low back can refer pain, numbness or tingling to the heel. You do not have to have back pain to have neural tension that refers to symptoms down your leg, although there is usually some loss of motion or symptoms.

After the low back has been ruled out, the mechanical specialist will then assess for any underlying “joint derangement” or disruption in the mechanics of the joint. These derangements are common and often missed.

Almost all derangements respond to direction-specific exercises, which rapidly resolve the underlying issue. And the good news is they can usually be identified within the first session, so your valuable time and money are not wasted and you will be able to return to your activities as soon as possible.

No matter what the causative factor, it is wise to be aware of reducing any additional stress on your heel. Make sure that you:

1. Wear shoes that support your arch.

2. Change your running shoes regularly.

3. Assure that your calf is flexible, especially the soleus muscle. (Soleus stretch = calf stretch with the knee bent.)

4. Allow proper recovery time between workout/training sessions. Your rest time is the time that your soft tissue is rebuilding.

Virtual Physical Therapists allows you to connect with the highest trained specialists in musculoskeletal disorders. Rather than searching for the latest fad in treatment or waiting for a doctor’s appointment, you can go directly to the clinician that is specifically trained to treat your pain. Our clinicians will perform a thorough mechanical assessment, virtually, at your convenience. They will then be able to provide you with the correct mechanical cause of your symptoms. And then empower you to treat yourself with education and an independent exercise program to abolish your symptoms.

Access to specialty care is now a click away. Through our downloadable app, you are now able to connect with a specialist immediately, no matter where you are located. Our app is HIPPA compliant and security encrypted, keeping your personal information secure.

Within the field of Physical Therapy, there is higher training known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT). We only partner with clinicians that have received a specialty Certification or Diploma in MDT. Research has shown that this treatment approach has the best outcomes in the shortest amount of time and the mechanical assessment is more accurate than an MRI in detecting symptomatic discs.