Diagnosing the Cause of Your Heel Pain

A myriad of conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and tendonitis, lead to heel pain. If you are suffering from heel pain, you might find that stretching, wearing special orthotic shoes, and rest ease the symptoms. However, if the pain fails to dissipate or continues to worsen it is time to make an appointment to see a specialist. At Centreville Foot & Ankle & Sports Medicine in Centreville, VA, Dr. James Hurst, and his talented team provide complete foot and ankle care to help treat your foot injury.

What are the Causes of Heel Pain?

Heel pain is extremely common with the following conditions being the main drivers:

• Bone spurs
• Achilles or flexor tendonitis
• Sever’s disease
• Stress fractures
• Irritated tendons
• Bursitis
• Plantar fasciitis

If you are suffering from heel pain, it is crucial to have a thorough medical examination to appropriately diagnose and treat the disorder. At Centreville Foot & Ankle & Sports Medicine, Dr. Hurst will diagnose your heel pain and establish a treatment regimen that may include physical therapy, additional stretching, other nonsurgical treatments, or surgery if required.

What are the Risk Factors for Heel Pain?

Given that your heel bears the brunt of your body’s weight when walking or exercising, heel pain can be exacerbated by a number of factors including the mechanics of how you walk, the shape of your foot, and more. You are more likely to develop heel pain if you have any of the following:

• High foot arches
• Arthritis in foot or ankle
• Participate in sports that require significant running or jumping such as soccer and basketball
• Stand for long periods of time
• Wear poorly fitted shoes that lack cushion and/or arch support. 

Located in Centreville, VA, Centreville Foot & Ankle & Sports Medicine is your go-to source for any heel pain. Dr. Hurst and our qualified team of medical professionals can offer conservative treatments that are non-invasive, with more aggressive treatment options such as the MLS ROBOTIC LASER that sends a photon of light to the injured plantar fascia and exponentially heals the fibers of tissue while reducing inflammation without pain or heat. Give us a call at (703) 830-3338 to learn more about our practice and schedule an appointment.