Heel pain - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Heel pain is a symptom that can be caused by mechanical overload, repeated microtraumas, acute inflammation or systemic diseases.

The back of the foot is the first to come into contact with the ground, during the support phase, during the journey; this continuous functional stress, therefore, makes the heel particularly vulnerable.

Possible causes of pain at the heel are tendonitis of the Achilles tendon (inflammatory lesion characterized by very intense diffuse pain in the tendon) and stress fractures (due to repeated trauma or prolonged incorrect loading).

In elderly people, on the other hand, this symptom may be the consequence of the progressive atrophy of the fat pad located at the level of the plantar fascia.

The heel spur is a calcification of the lower part of the heel at the insertion point of the plantar fascia. This outgrowth causes tension in the muscles and ligaments, which can develop into inflammation. The heel spur manifests itself with a sharp pain localized to the heel, above all under load, during the walk.

In plantar fasciitis, that is the inflammation of the fibrous tissue that goes from the calcaneus to the fingers, the pain is concentrated above all in the intermediate portion of the arch of the foot and is aggravated by the load. Furthermore, nodules may appear on palpation.

Heel pain can also be caused by systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout and collagen diseases.