Heel Pain
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Individualised Care
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Whole-Body Approach
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Long-Term Results
Heel Pain Treatment in Epping
Our multidisciplinary team provides expert heel pain treatment to patients across Epping, South Morang, Wollert, Mill Park, Donnybrook and surrounding suburbs. Whether your heel pain has developed gradually, followed an increase in activity or appeared after an injury, we focus on identifying the underlying cause and developing a personalised plan to improve movement, strength and function.
Heel pain can originate from several different structures around the heel and may be associated with conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon problems, Sever’s disease, bursitis or stress-related injuries. Symptoms can occur underneath, behind or around the heel and may behave differently depending on the condition involved.
At Muscle Joint Bone, we don’t just focus on where it hurts. We assess your foot mechanics, ankle mobility, lower-limb strength, footwear and activity demands to understand the factors contributing to your symptoms and develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan suited to your needs.
WHAT IS HEEL PAIN?
Heel pain is discomfort experienced underneath, behind or around the heel. It can range from a mild ache or tenderness to sharper pain that makes walking, standing, running or participating in sport difficult.
The heel absorbs significant force during everyday movement. Pain can develop when the tissues surrounding the heel become irritated, injured or exposed to more load than they can comfortably tolerate. Depending on the cause, symptoms may develop gradually over time or appear more suddenly following an injury or change in activity.
Some people experience heel pain during their first steps after resting, while others notice symptoms after prolonged standing, walking, running or sport. The location, timing and behaviour of your pain can provide important information about the structures involved.
What’s Causing Your Heel Pain?
Heel pain can develop when the tissues around the heel are injured, irritated or exposed to more load than they can comfortably tolerate. Identifying what is contributing to your symptoms helps guide a more targeted treatment and rehabilitation plan.
Plantar Fasciitis
Irritation of the plantar fascia can cause pain underneath the heel and through the arch. Symptoms are often particularly noticeable during the first few steps after getting out of bed or following periods of rest.
Achilles Tendon Pain
The Achilles tendon attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone. Irritation or overloading of the tendon can cause pain, tenderness and stiffness around the back of the heel and ankle.
Sever's Disease
Sever's disease is a common cause of heel pain in growing children and adolescents, particularly those regularly participating in running, jumping and high-impact sports.
Repetitive Loading
Sudden increases in running, walking, jumping, training volume or time spent standing can increase the demands placed on the heel and surrounding tissues.
Foot Mechanics
Foot posture, gait patterns and the way your lower limbs move can influence how forces are distributed through the heel during walking, running and other activities.
Footwear & Support
Changes in footwear, poorly fitting shoes or footwear that does not suit your activity may influence loading, support and comfort around the heel.
Not sure what’s causing your heel pain? Book an assessment so our team can assess your foot mechanics, mobility, strength and activity demands.
Book an AssessmentTreatment for Heel Pain
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK TREATMENT FOR HEEL PAIN?
Heel pain can sometimes improve with rest, footwear changes and activity modification, but persistent or recurring symptoms should not be ignored. If heel pain is affecting your walking, work, exercise or sport, or keeps returning when you increase activity, a professional assessment can help identify the underlying cause and guide your recovery.
Common signs you should seek assessment include:
- Heel pain that persists or continues to return
- Pain during your first steps in the morning or after rest
- Pain underneath, behind or around the heel
- Difficulty walking, running or standing for extended periods
- Swelling, stiffness or tenderness around the heel
- Pain that worsens during or after exercise
- Symptoms that return when you increase your activity or training
- Heel pain that is affecting your work, sport or everyday movement
If heel pain is limiting your activity, our multidisciplinary team can assess your foot and ankle movement, strength, biomechanics, footwear and activity demands before developing a personalised treatment and rehabilitation plan.
A DETAILED LOOK AT HOW YOU MOVE
COMMON HEEL PAIN SYMPTOMS
Heel pain can feel different depending on the underlying cause and structures involved. MJB’s existing page identifies symptoms ranging from dull aching to sharper or throbbing pain, with associated stiffness and swelling in some presentations.
Pain Under the Heel
Tenderness, aching or sharper pain underneath the heel, particularly during standing, walking or after spending longer periods on your feet.
Pain Behind the Heel
Pain, tenderness or stiffness around the back of the heel where the Achilles tendon approaches or attaches to the heel bone, often aggravated by walking, running or exercise.
First-Step Pain
Heel pain that is particularly noticeable during the first few steps after getting out of bed, standing after prolonged sitting or beginning to move following a period of rest.
Pain During Activity
Symptoms that become noticeable or worsen during walking, running, jumping or sport, and may become more pronounced as activity levels or training demands increase.
Stiffness
Reduced flexibility or a feeling of tightness around the heel, ankle or calf that may make walking, climbing stairs or exercising feel uncomfortable or restricted.
Swelling & Tenderness
Some heel conditions can cause localised swelling, sensitivity or tenderness around the painful area, particularly following increased activity or prolonged time on your feet.
Our Treatment Approach
Rather than simply focusing on your symptoms, treatment aims to address the factors contributing to your heel pain while improving foot and ankle movement, strength and capacity for everyday activity, exercise and sport. Depending on the cause of your heel pain, treatment may include:
- Hands-on treatment
- Foot and ankle mobility exercises
- Calf and foot strengthening
- Progressive loading and rehabilitation
- Balance and stability exercises
- Activity and load management
- Walking and running assessment
- Footwear advice
- Orthotic assessment where appropriate
- Shockwave therapy where clinically appropriate
- Return-to-running and return-to-sport programs
Because heel pain can involve different structures and contributing factors, your treatment plan is tailored to your individual presentation. Muscle Joint Bone brings multiple disciplines together, with Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Podiatrists and Exercise Physiologists able to work collaboratively throughout your treatment and rehabilitation.
Personalised Treatment Plans
MORE THAN PAIN RELIEF. COMPLETE HEEL REHABILITATION.
WHY CHOOSE MUSCLE JOINT BONE
Heel pain doesn’t always have a single cause. Your multidisciplinary team looks beyond the painful area to assess the foot mechanics, strength, mobility, footwear and activity demands that may be contributing to your symptoms. Our goal is not simply to settle the pain, but to improve function and build your capacity for the activities you need to perform.
IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. NOT JUST THE SYMPTOMS.
Effective treatment starts with understanding why your heel hurts. Our clinicians assess your foot and ankle movement, lower-limb strength, biomechanics and activity history to identify factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and develop a treatment plan specific to your presentation.
ONE TEAM. EVERY DISCIPLINE.
Your care can be supported by a multidisciplinary team including Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Podiatrists and Exercise Physiologists. This allows different aspects of your movement and rehabilitation to be addressed as required.
LONG-TERM RESULTS. NOT SHORT-TERM RELIEF.
Our rehabilitation approach focuses on progressively improving foot and ankle strength, mobility and capacity rather than only addressing symptoms. Whether you want to walk comfortably, spend the day on your feet, return to running or get back to sport, treatment is built around the demands you need your body to handle.