The heel is a very sensitive area of the body that can be affected by many conditions, including arthritis or bursitis. It is also the most common site for foot ulcer and infection. A heel pain can also occur due to poor diet and exercise.
Often the cause of pain and inflammation is an underlying condition like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and tendinitis. In these cases, treatment of this type should be done with the help of massage and acupuncture. With regular treatment, it will help you get relief from heel pain.
If you have any questions about heel pain or want to know about treatment, book an appointment on one of our centres in Delhi. Here’s how to treat your heel pain:
Causes
Your heel is surrounded by muscles and tendons, and this can become inflamed if your body doesn’t exercise. This can lead to heel pain and swelling, and sometimes can even progress to arthritis. If you have heel pain after stretching, then make sure to wear comfortable shoes and socks before going home.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may suggest imaging tests, such as MRIs and X-rays, for diagnosing heel pain. These tests are used to diagnose acute heel pain. Other imaging tests include ultrasound tests and lab tests. Your doctor will examine your feet and give you information about how it relates to the heel and what kinds of injuries can occur.
Treatments
There are different types of therapies that can help relieve heel pain or prevent it. These treatments include:
Acupuncture: Acupuncture works by stimulating the nerves surrounding the heel through needles. It helps improve blood circulation and reduces inflammation. Your doctor will insert needles to the points on your feet, where you feel discomfort. You can do acupuncture at home with a Chinese medicine practitioner or by visiting one of our centres in New Delhi. They make a customised program for treating different types of pains. And here they offer free consultations in their clinics.
Acupuncture works by stimulating the nerves surrounding the heel through needles. It helps improve blood circulation and reduces inflammation. Your doctor will insert needles to the points on your feet, where you feel discomfort. You can do acupuncture at home with a Chinese medicine practitioner or by visiting one of our centres in New Delhi.
They make a customised program for treating different types of pains. And here they offer free consultations in their clinics. Massage: When people tend to have heel stiffness, they can benefit from massaging. We use several kinds of oils for massage and use them for a variety of purposes. For example, lemon oil is used when we massage to ease pain. But there are some differences between different types of massage. Massage therapy can be useful for treating tendinitis or soreness, but its effectiveness on heel pain treatment is debatable.
When people tend to have heel stiffness, they can benefit from massaging. We use several kinds of oils for massage and use them for a variety of purposes. For example, lemon oil is used when we massage to ease pain. But there are some differences between different types of massage. Massage therapy can be useful for treating tendinitis or soreness, but its effectiveness on heel pain treatment is debatable. Exercise: There are various exercises that can help reduce heel pain. You can try aerobic exercises, which may help you reduce tension in your muscles, and/or flexibility training, which can relax the muscles around the heels.
There are various exercises that can help reduce heel pain. You can try aerobic exercises, which may help you reduce tension in your muscles, and/or flexibility training, which can relax the muscles around the heels. Stretching: People who suffer heel arthritis should stretch regularly to relieve some of their symptoms, especially if the pain affects the knuckle and pinky toes and spreads to the outside of the heel. Stretching can also improve circulation, thus easing your foot pain or swelling. Don’t leave your stretches unattended lest your heel pain flares up again.
People who suffer heel arthritis should stretch regularly to relieve some of their symptoms, especially if the pain affects the knuckle and pinky toes and spreads to the outside of the heel. Stretching can also improve circulation, thus easing your foot pain or swelling. Don’t leave your stretches unattended lest your heel pain flares up again. Ice on your feet: Our doctors recommend ice therapy for treating heel ulcer and infection. So apply cool water on the area of injury or on the tendon on the toe where the ulcer occurs.
Our doctors recommend ice therapy for treating heel ulcer and infection. So apply cool water on the area of injury or on the tendon on the toe where the ulcer occurs. Anti-inflammatory medication: Sometimes over-the-counter drugs may treat heel pain. However, the efficacy is still debatable.
Sometimes over-the-counter drugs may treat heel pain. However, the efficacy is still debatable. Surgery: Also known as operative or corrective surgery, including removal of tissue, bone, tendon or muscle to relieve heel pain. While most heel patients can find relief from heel pain using anti-inflammatory medications or other therapeutic methods, surgery doesn’t provide immediate relief.
Also known as operative or corrective surgery, including removal of tissue, bone, tendon or muscle to relieve heel pain. While most heel patients can find relief from heel pain using anti-inflammatory medications or other therapeutic methods, surgery doesn’t provide immediate relief. Flexible footwear: Tightening and loosening materials are often helpful. Some products, such as TPU or EVA foam for flexible shoes, are also useful. Even though elastic wraps around the heels when wearing compression socks, they aren’t ideal because they can increase your risk of falling or straining your ankle on tight surfaces. Wear proper shoes to alleviate heel pain.
Tightening and loosening materials are often helpful. Some products, such as TPU or EVA foam for flexible shoes, are also useful. Even though elastic wraps around the heels when wearing compression socks, they aren’t ideal because they can increase your risk of falling or straining your ankle on tight surfaces. Wear proper shoes to alleviate heel pain. Sports Medicine: These treatments that help ease heel pain may not prevent injury, but they can also speed up recovery.
They typically focus on rehabilitating injured muscles. One type of sports medicine treatment is static or manual stimulation. (Static stimulation stimulates the nervous system while Manual stimulation activates all parts of the body) This type of treatment can activate damaged soft tissues and improve the blood flow to the heels by activating the sympathetic nervous system to slow down the heart rate. Most doctors recommend this treatment for moderate-to-severe heel pain. While sports medicine doesn’t cure heel ulcer or prevent heel infection, it is much safer than doing nothing.
How often should you visit us?
We have more than 50 locations across India, so you don’t need to travel far to see a skilled orthopaedic specialist, or you can take our medical app from your smartphone. Or, just call to book treatment on one of our centres.