THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLET TER
HOW MUCH WILL YOU BE
ON YOUR FEET THIS SEASON?
INSIDE : • How Much Will You Be On Your Feet This Season? • How Physical Therapy Can Help!
• Shockwave Therapy • Patient Success Spotlight
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Heel Spurs vs. Plantar Fasciitis What exactly are heel spurs and plantar fasciitis? While similar to one another, they have a couple of distinct differences: Heelspursarecalciumdeposits thatgrowon thebottomof theheel.Theycancause bone-likeprotrusions thatstickoutof theflatundersideof theheel,causingsoreness or pain. Many people will describe the feeling of heel spurs as “a pin sticking into their heel,” typically with peak pain occurring in the morning and gradually slowing throughout the restof theday.However,heelspurscanalsobepainless–somepeople onlynotice themdue to inflammationandx-rayevidence. Ifyounoticeswelling,pain, or protrusions at your heel sites, make sure you consult with a doctor immediately. Plantar fasciitis, also colloquially referred to as “policeman’s heel,” is a bit different. It can either develop on its own or as a symptomatic response to heel spurs. It is an inflammation of the “plantar fascia,” which is a long tissue at the bottom of your feet thatconnects from theheelbone to the toes.Becauseof the rangeof tissue,youmay feelpainorsoreness inyourheel, toes,or theentiretyofyour foot’sunderside.People withplantar fasciitisalso report theirpeakpainoccurring in themorning,describing it as a “stabbing pain” that seems to alleviate with mobility as the day progresses. It is also important tocontactadoctor ifyounoticeswellingorpainat thebottomofyour foot, as it may be a sign of plantar fasciitis, and could be a symptom of heel spurs. How do these form? Like many physical ailments, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis typically form from physical exertion. A lot of people tend to notice them when they are engaging in
physical activity more often than usual, or when they are spending an abnormal amount of time on their feet compared to their average daily routine. Some common causes of heel spurs include: • Excessiveamountsofwalking, jogging,or running,especiallyonhardsurfaces. • Changes or irregularities in walking gait, especially in which unusual amounts of stress are placed on the heel. • Significant weight gain or obesity. • Poorly fitted shoes, especially those lacking arch support. Some common causes of plantar fasciitis include: • Spending thewholeday,orexcessiveamountsof theday,onone’s feet;especially when it is out of the ordinary for that person. • Having either very flat or very high arches on the bottom of one’s feet. • Participating inshortburstsofphysicalactivity,especiallywhenbeing followed by extended periods of rest. • Diabetes. • Thecomingof increasedage, thusdecreasing theflexibilityof theplantar fascia tissue, and thinning the padding of the heel.
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