Common Conditions

Heel Pain Treatment

Heel Pain Treatment in Calgary, AB

Providing effective heel pain treatment to help you get back on your feet without pain.

Plantar Fasciitis is a condition characterized by an inflammation of the band of tissue (also known as the plantar fascia) that extends from your heel to the toes. It is the most common cause of heel pain and is not usually a serious condition but can interrupt your daily activities and life. However, a proper treatment procedure can relieve you of this pain and get your life back on track.

Heel Pain Treatment at Radiant Physiotherapy

At Radiant Physiotherapy, we start by conducting an in-depth evaluation of your symptoms to create an appropriate treatment plan and determine the root cause of your pain. Our priority is to return you to pain-free living as soon as possible.

Common Causes of Heel Pain

There are several causes of plantar fasciitis and usually a combination of factors not just one factor can cause this. Also, some risk factors that might raise your chances of getting plantar fasciitis include:

  • Weakness in lower leg muscles and in hip muscles
  • Poor biomechanics of the foot
  • Improper footwear
  • Flat or highly arched feet
  • Stiff big toe joint
  • Injury or trauma to the heel or foot
  • Bone deformity
  • Increase in physical activity
  • Muscle imbalance or tightness of the muscles (calf muscle)

​How to Care for Heel Pain

Whenever you feel pain or any activity is restricted, you need to find out what’s wrong and how to fix it. To avoid heel pain, it's important to keep your foot and heel tendons flexible. It’s also important to strengthen your hips and back as it is connected to your heel through nerves and can cause severe problems in your heel. You should stretch regularly and wear shoes that are properly fitting and supportive. Applying ice to the heel has been proven to be effective way to reduce inflammation and pain, remember it should be pain free so please consult your physiotherapist before doing any modalities or exercises.

Physiotherapy Treatments for Heel Pain

  • Shockwave Therapy: Shockwave for plantar fasciitis is a non-invasive and effective treatment where we use sound waves to aid your heel’s natural healing process by generating new blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the region.
  • Manual Therapy: Manual therapy is a form of physical therapy where our skilled therapists use hands-on techniques such as deep friction massage and mobilization to treat your heel pain. This is very effective in heel spur treatment.
  • Acupuncture: Here, we will insert needles into certain anatomical parts of your heel, increasing the production of endorphins (pain-relieving neurohormones) to reduce pain and inflammation in your heel. This is also a great treatment for heel spurs, a condition in the underside of the heel often characterized by a lot of inflammation.
  • Dry Needling: Dry needling is a modern clinical technique where we use a very thin needle to penetrate your heel’s skin and soft tissue. This causes tissue remodeling in and around the needling site, relieving you of pain.
  • Stretching Exercises to Improve Tight Muscles: Our team of physiotherapists will make a customized stretching exercises plan for your heel and back, which will stretch your nerves and soft tissues to help improve tight muscles preventing the risks of an injury.
  • Strengthening Exercises (to prevent re-injury): We believe that injury prevention is just as important as healing the injury. After your heel treatment, strengthening exercises are important to get back to your old self and prevent re-injury. We will recommend proper strength exercises per your unique needs.
  • Education Regarding Proper Footwear and Support: Footwear is a very important factor in heel injuries and pain. Your footwear can be the sole reason for many health-related problems in your foot, so it’s very important to know which footwear to wear while doing different activities.

Your physiotherapist heel pain specialist in Calgary

At Radiant Physiotherapy, we have one of the trained physiotherapists in Calgary that are well qualified and skilled in heel pain therapy to help you recover rapidly. We can help you return back to daily life, pain-free with our custom-tailored combination of stretches, exercises, and treatments recommended by our expert physiotherapists.

Looking for heel pain treatment near you in Calgary? Call and schedule an appointment with our experienced physiotherapy team today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prevent heel pain?

You can prevent heel pain by following these methods:

  • Wear shoes that are well-fitting and supportive of the foot.
  • When engaging in physical activities, use the appropriate footwear.
  • Stretch and warm up your muscles before working out.
  • Pace yourself when engaging in physical activities.
  • Maintain a nutritious diet.
  • When you're fatigued or your muscles ache, take a break.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) that links your heel bone to your toes on the sole of your foot. It is one of the most prevalent causes of heel pain.

How do I know if I have plantar fasciitis?

You may have plantar fasciitis if you have the following symptoms:

  • A dull or acute stabbing pain in your heel or foot.
  • A burning or aching sensation that runs from your heel to the bottom of your foot.
  • Pain and stiffness, especially after getting out of bed in the morning or after sitting or lying down for a long period.

How long does it take for plantar fasciitis to heal?

Without medical therapy, plantar fasciitis normally heals in 6–18 months. It can also become a chronic problem for certain people. Symptoms may ease and reappear, or the discomfort may persist for a year or more. However, with the right treatment plan, you can be cured within a month.

What exercises do I do for heel pain?

There are various exercises you can do for heel pain, such as:

  • Plantar fascia massage
  • Calf stretch
  • Seated plantar fascia stretch
  • Heel raise
  • Strengthening exercises
  • Sitting ankle inversion with resistance

Do I need to heat or ice for heel pain?

It is recommended you can apply ice to your heel. Ice can aide in the reduction of inflammation. Contrast baths that alternate between hot and cold water might also be beneficial.

What is a good exercise for heel pain relief?

Its recommended to treat the root cause of the pain. Maintaining flexibility can reduce pain significantly. We usually recommend stretching your calf and planter fascia rolling. You would need to strengthen calf, hips and lower leg in general

What is proper footwear for heel pain?

If you have plantar fasciitis, wear supportive shoes as much as possible. Good supportive shoes will have enough padding to properly cradle your foot and arch support, as well as enough room for your toes to move freely. You should avoid high heels and other shoes that exert a lot of strain on your feet.