Plantar Heel Pain
BeachLife Physio • 8 December 2020
Plantar Heel Pain
Plantar Heel Pain (PHP) is a common condition which causes pain around the heel and arch of the foot. It is commonly seen in runners, and people with active lifestyles. The good news is that PHP is a treatable condition, that doesn’t need to be the reason for your pain! Physiotherapy has been proven to be effective in reducing pain associated with PHP.
Plantar Heel Pain is a term used to describe pain that originates from soft tissue structures around the heel, and that can extend into the ankle or the arch of the foot.
A common misconception of Plantar Heel Pain (PHP) is that the cause of the pain is a "heel spur". In fact, only a small percentage of PHP patient's have a heel spur, and these bony growths aren't always the cause of heel pain.
Common Characteristics of PHP:
- Pain with the first step in the morning
- Pain which improves with walking/movement
- Pain when touching areas over the heel, plantarfascia and arch of the foot
Treatments for Plantar Heel Pain can include:
- Managing the amount of running/activity performed over a period of time
- Strengthening of specific muscles to allow correct & safe technique
- Taping techniques/orthotics to offload certain structures in the foot
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