Expert Interview - Podiatrist on heel pain
Sports podiatrist Ian Sadler talks about the biomechanics of heel pain including plantar fasciitis.
There are 9 or 10 types of Heel pain. The most common is Plantar fasciitis. This helps to maintain the arch of the foot. Anything which causes too much strain on the fascia, causes small tears and degeneration in the fascia at the attachment under the heel.
Other causes of heel pain could be a heel spur - a bony growth under the heel. The fat pad can become swollen - this will seem a lot like plantar fasciitis so it's important to differentiate.
Also the achilles tendon sends fibres under the heel which can become painful.
