Heel pain can be caused by a number of different conditions including heel spurs, degradation of the plantar fascia, fat pad contusion, stress fracture, compressed nerves, or inflamed bursas.

Heel Spurs – bony growths that occur at the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone.

Degradation of the plantar fascia – this degradation of the collagen fibres is commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis. Once thought to be an inflammatory condition, plantar fasciitis is now thought to be caused by dysfunction near the attachment site.

Fat Pad Contusion – caused by intense or repetitive impact. These conditions can cause the fat pad to be pushed away leaving less of a protective layer between the bones in the foot and the ground.

Stress Fracture – very common in road runners, a stress fracture of the heel bone can be identified by re-creating the pain by squeezing the back of the heel.

Compressed Nerves – there are many important nerves that travel along the bottom of the foot. There are also multiple bones that form the foot. When these nerves get in between these bones and become “pinched” there is a great deal of pain involved.

Inflamed Bursas – bursas are small sacs of fluid that provide cushion and reduce friction between bones. When these sacs become inflamed they grow in size and cause pain.

KT Tape has been very helpful for general heel pain through its ability to provide support without limiting mobility. KT Tape proprioceptive benefits trigger positive reactions from the tissue involved in creating the pain. By creating surface tension on the skin over the area needing support, KT Tape creates a light, comfortable support structure that relieves pain and facilitates mobility. Relieving pain helps to alleviate the risk of compensation injuries and promote the healing process.

Proper diagnosis of the source of your pain is vital to creating a treatment plan to reduce pain and improve function. Your professional medical provider has the tools and expertise to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for your specific condition.