Heel Pain? We can help you!

Written by: Melanie Talastas-Soriano  BA-Kin, CAT(C), ISSA-CPT
                  Athletic Therapist, Personal Trainer

Are you experiencing heel pain? Is it nagging you after a long day standing on your feet? Or feeling very sore after playing your favorite sports? Is your heel pain worse the first few steps in the morning? You are not alone because millions of people worldwide are affected by heel pain. What exactly is happening to your heel? Why is it so sore? What could it be?

Your nagging heel pain could be plantar fasciitis.

I have seen many patients with plantar fasciitis in our clinic and it is the common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that attaches to the heel bone that runs across the foot attaching to the tarsals (toes).  Inflammation of the plantar fascia is caused by micro tears that swell accompanied by burning and stabbing pain in the heel. Depending on the severity of the injury, the pain can last for a few days to several months. However, seeking treatment early on is the best way to avoid the chronic effects.

The Causes

• Wearing improper footwear for work or sports.
• Frequent change of surface area for sports (indoor, outdoor, incline or decline).
• Tight muscles around the calf area or foot.
• The foot mechanics (flat feet or collapsed arch, high arch) that may contribute to the strain of the band / fascia.

​Home Program: Pain Management

1. Apply ice on your heel using frozen bottled water.
2. Massage plantar fascia tissue deeply at least 2 times a week using a tennis ball.
3. Stretch your calves and feet.
4. Use soft heel supports when you wear shoes.
5. Wear proper footwear when participating in sporting activities.

In Clinic Care: Athletic Therapy

1. Can help decrease pain and inflammation by cryotherapy (ice massage).
2. Using alternative treatments like ultrasound, interferential currents, deep tissue massage, cupping, etc.
3. Athletic Tape application to help relieve tension on the fascia.
4. Rock tape application to help decrease inflammation and pain after treatments.
5. Invest in custom fitted orthotics that will correct your foot mechanics and have a lasting effect daily as you insert the arch support in your working / sports shoes.

Custom Fitted Orthotics: How it’s Done

​Custom Fitted Orthotics are done by casting both feet at a neutral position - prone.

Both feet will be casted and it would look like this.

​It will be sent to the manufacturing company Paris Orthotics located in British Columbia and in 5-10 business days, the custom insole will be ready for you to wear.

The custom fitted orthotics will look similar to these samples. For the orthotics to fit in your shoes, you will need to remove the insoles that is already in the shoes to avoid constriction of your feet with the new orthotics. The rules for your new orthotics are similar to when you buy new shoes. You need to break them in. So, in the first week, you need to wear the orthotics for an hour or two and gradually increase the time.

Custom fitted orthotics not only help correct your foot mechanics, they also help prevent heel pain and stop it from getting worse. If this is something you are looking and that you know it will help, contact our clinic. Also, many private insurances cover the custom fitted orthotics with the requirement of doctor’s prescription along with the diagnoses, i.e., plantar fasciitis. 

Check your insurance coverage as other conditions may apply.

Our clinic direct bills to Manitoba Blue Cross, Great-West Life and Green Shield Canada.