Health blog Category: joint health
Our Heel; The Part of Our Foot We Forget
The heel, also known as the calcaneus, is located on the bottom of the foot directly below the ankle joint. The heel bone has many muscles and ligaments attached to it. When injuries or irritation occur to the attached muscles or ligaments, it can create pain in the heel. This pain can lead to many other additional issues in your daily life such as difficulty:
- Walking
- Jogging
- Running
- Working out
- standing
The pain can be described as follows:
- Tight
- Spasm
- Burning
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Dull
- Achy
- Sharp
Why does heel pain occur?
This pain can be caused by:
- Overuse of the calf and foot muscles
- Tight calf and foot muscles, or plantar fascia
- Weakness in ankle-supporting muscles
- Fractures to bone
- Inflammation of bursa (fluid filled sacs that provide protection)
- Neurological issues
Common Heel Pain Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis: inflammation of the Achilles tendon due to overused or tight calf muscles
- Bursitis: inflammation of the bursa due to tight surrounding tissues/tendons or friction at the heel
- Plantar Fasciitis: inflammation of the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot
- Heel Spur: bony outgrowth at the heel due to tight muscles or strains/sprains
- Stress Fractures: tiny cracks in bone due to overuse and repetitive forces
Should you seek physical therapy?
Read full blogJoint Stiffness Getting In Your Way?
Are you having trouble bending forward to tie your shoes, putting on your t-shirt, reaching overhead for a cup on a shelf, or sitting? Joint stiffness can prevent you from doing these and many other things. Joint stiffness can effect the elbows, wrists, shoulders, hips, knees, neck, lower back, and ankles. Joint stiffness is the first stop on the path to PAIN. This can further restrict you from being able to do many other things such as driving, working, or going to a movie.
Read full blogIs grabbing and holding an object difficult because of joint pain?
By: Kiara Holmes, ATC
Arthritis; [ahr-thrahy-tis] – Noun – The condition your parents always said you would get in your hands if you crack your knuckles.
While cracking your knuckles isn’t really a culprit for arthritis, I can tell you that NOT moving your joints will set you up for arthritis much faster.
What is arthritis? It is the degeneration of the cartilage in various joints of the body that lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation.