CLINIC
The heel is designed to absorb the impact of your bodyweight when walking, running or doing weight-bearing exercise. It’s a crucial area, which makes heel pain a common occurrence
YOUR EXPERT
Louise Stirk practices at Pure Sports Medicine (puresportsmed.com), London. Louise has a podiatry degree, a Master’s in sports medicine and an interest in understanding the biomechanics of runners, cricketers, golfers and footballers.
Potential issues
Heel pain can affect everyone, whatever your age, but those more commonly affected include those in middle age (over 40s age group), those who are overweight or stand for long periods of time, as well as athletes. Below are the most common problems associated with the heel.
Plantar fasciitis (or fasciopathy)
Plantar fasciitis is a musculoskeletal disorder primarily affecting the fascial enthesis (the fascia band, similar to a ligament, which connects the heel bone to the base of the toes). It’s poorly understood, although it’s thought to have a mechanical origin. The condition is commonly associated with flat feet (pes planus) and other lower limb biomechanical anomalies, with the presumption being that tensile strain on the fascia causes microtears and changes to the tissue structure.