Heel Pain – PodMed Podiatry

At PodMed Podiatry, plantar heel pain is one of the most common and persistent conditions we treat. Many of our patients come to us after seeing multiple healthcare professionals, frustrated that their pain isn’t improving and is beginning to affect their work, exercise, and overall quality of life.
Too often do we have people arriving due to previously diagnosed or suspected plantar fasciitis however, the heel is a complex anatomical region, and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment. Our podiatrists take a thorough and evidence-based approach to assessment, as plantar heel pain can stem from a range of causes, including:

Mechanical overload or poor mechanics
Nerve irritation and neurological involvement
Muscular dysfunction
Inflammatory, arthritic or autoimmune related
Fat pad atrophy or calcaneal stress injuries
Osteochondrosis (growth related in adolescence)

Without correctly identifying the underlying cause, treatment is often ineffective or short-lived.
Once we’ve reached a clear diagnosis, we develop a tailored treatment plan specific to your condition, needs, and lifestyle. We know that not one treatment benefits all and usually the correct coupling of several interventions lead to the best outcome. Evidence-based treatment used by our team in the clinic include:

Offloading strategies such as footwear modification, taping, or custom orthotics
Targeted strength and loading programs, aimed at improving the capacity of the specified tissues such as the intrinsic foot muscles, or the gastroc-soleal complex
Manual therapy, shockwave and mobilisation, where appropriate
Education around training loads, movement patterns, and lifestyle modifications
Referral for imaging or multidisciplinary care if an inflammatory or systemic issue is suspected

Most importantly, we’ll work with you to build a sustainable plan that gets you moving pain-free for a long-term solution.