What causes Heel Pain in runners?
Tips to Prevent Heel Pain when running
- See a Podiatrist or Physiotherapist who can assess your Running technique and foot posture.
- Choose the correct Running shoe for your Foot Function, a Podiatrist can guide you on this.
- When starting a new activity or sport, start out slowly managing training load. Doing too much too soon does not allow adequate time for tissues to adapt to the increased load they are under.
- Strength and Flexibility, engage in some strength and conditioning exercise specific to your sport.
- Quality Sleep and Nutrition. Sleep is very important for recovery, growth and repair. Fuelling the body with the right types of foods also plays an important role in injury prevention.
How can a Podiatrist help to treat Heel Pain?
Heel Pain in Runners: this guide from Ace Health Centre on the Gold Coast walks you through what matters most. The most important part is to reduce the load in the damaged tissues. As Plantar Fasciitis is caused by excessive load in the tissue, it is desirable to reduce the load in the short term. This helps to facilitate healing.
1) There are a few useful strategies for this;
- Foot Orthotics / insoles; Custom insoles with the appropriate design are effective in reducing the load in the Plantar Fascia
- Strapping;Certain methods of strapping that can reduce the load in the tissue immediately leading to immediate pain relief
- Reduce training load; by stopping or modifying running or other activities until the tissues heal and pain subsides
- Calf muscle stretching; stretching the calf muscles has been shown to be effective in reducing the load in the Plantar Fascia
2) Increase the ability of the Tissues to take the Load
- High Load Strength Training for Plantar Fasciitis; High load strength training is aimed at progressively and slowly increasing the load on the Plantar Fascia. This is so it can adapt to be stronger and be tolerate his forces going through it. Evidence suggests High Load Strength training may aid in quicker reduction in pain and improvements in function.
Conclusion
There is no need for heel pain to become a long term chronic problem. Early appropriate intervention ensures the best outcome. This ensures a quicker reduction in pain, improved function long term and reduced likelihood of reoccurrence. Custom orthotics are one of the most effective way to get out of pain and allow an increase in load.
Call us today to book with out Podiatrist and see how we can help you.
What to Expect From Heel Pain in Runners at Ace Health Centre
Patients who book Heel Pain in Runners with our team get a clinic-grade assessment, a clear plain-language plan, and a structured progression rather than a one-off appointment. Furthermore, we coordinate care across podiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics and exercise physiology where relevant, so you are not bouncing between clinics. Authoritative information on this topic is also available from Healthdirect Australia if you would like to read further before booking. As a result, you walk in informed and walk out with a plan you understand.
For more on what we do, see our main service page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heel Pain in Runners
How long does heel pain take to settle? Most cases settle in 6-8 weeks with consistent treatment. Patients who quit at week 3 because it feels mostly better are the ones who relapse a month later.
Should I keep stretching? Yes, but gently. Inflamed tissue doesn’t want a hard stretch — gentle and frequent beats hard and rare.
Do I need an X-ray for heel pain? Most heel pain is diagnosed clinically. We image only if there’s concern about a heel spur, fracture or partial fascia tear.
Book Your Heel Pain in Runners Appointment
Ready to get started? Call (07) 5572 6222 or book online. In addition, new patients can use our no-gap initial consult — straightforward, no surprises.
