Hello friends of La Bolsa del Corredor! From the producers of “if you run and your foot doesn't hurt…Go back to your planet!” We get the new Hollywood production, "what runner hasn't had a sore heel at some time?" With this post we intend to give you a quick guide in which to consult what pathology this annoying and damn heel pain could be, depending on where it appears, and thus, the more you know, the sooner a solution can be given.
If you ever hear a doctor, podiatrist, or physical therapist tell you that you have HEAL PAIN, don't be too impressed, as that just means heel pain...and isn't diagnostic as such. To know what we have, we must be more precise and look for the specific pathology. Today we give you a brief outline of the possible pain in different parts of the heel, the posterior area and the plantar area.
Pain in the back of the heel
In the back of the heel, we can have different injuries or pathologies, such as:
Achilles tendinitis.
It is the inflammation (remember that everything ending in –itis means inflammation) of the Achilles tendon.
The Achilles tendon is part of the triceps surae muscle (gemius+soleus) and inserts on the back of the heel, being the most powerful tendon of the lower body. Actively participate in the race and supporting forces of up to 10 times our body weight. Achilles tendonitis is acute inflammation of the sheath or membrane that covers the Achilles tendon, and causes pain, functional impotence, and stiffness in the area, which can be a serious problem for the runner. In its chronic phase, adhesions appear between the tendon and nearby structures.
We leave you the link of this same website, if you want to know more about it.
Blisters
Who hasn't suffered them? A blister or blister is an accumulation of transparent or bloody fluid and is the result of repetitive rubbing or friction, either with the sock, insoles or with shoes. Sometimes they stay in a simple scratch... but not even science knows yet which of the two bothers the most to run! Here we talk about them and how to prevent them!
Retrocalcaneal bursitis.
We have ever told you that 'bursas' are fluid-filled bags in anatomical areas where there are points of friction between muscles, tendons and bones and that they act as shock absorbers and lubricants. When you run excessively or wear sports shoes that rub against the back of the heel, they become irritated and inflamed, and the skin in that area becomes red and hot.
This pathology with pain in the area just above the insertion of the Achilles tendon, and is generally caused by continuous friction with the sports shoe. It also influences that certain foot morphologies are prone to this friction being perpetuated.
Haglund's Syndrome
No, I didn't choke or write 'al tun-tun'. Haglund is what we call the enlargement of the back of the heel bone (the calcaneus) that is caused by several factors, including a cavus foot and shortening of the posterior musculature. Also for inappropriate footwear! It causes pain at the Achilles tendon insertion, redness, and leads to chafing and bursitis. It is a pathology that professional athletes, such as Carles Castillejo, have suffered, and for which they have even had to undergo surgery.
Pain in the plantar area of the heel
In the plantar area of the heel, we can have different injuries or pathologies, such as:
Contusion on the feet.
Annoying, it makes you limp a bit, but with ice and a shock to the area for a couple of weeks you get rid of it. Plantar bruises occur, for example, when we step too hard in that area, as if to avoid a fall, or when we step on a stone badly. The plantar fat pad of the heel is traumatized (sometimes that part is discolored).
Plantar Fasciitis
The best for last! The plantar fascia is an aponeurosis, located on the sole of the foot (it goes from the heel to the forefoot), and it is a very resistant fibrous tissue that provides stability to the plantar arch. Thus, plantar fasciitis is inflammation of this tissue due to continuous trauma at its origin. This inflammation produces pain, generally on the inside of the heel, which can radiate to the inside edge of the foot.
Very evolved fasciitis can lead to a calcaneal spur, which would be a calcification of the insertion area. Although it is very striking on the x-ray, usually that bone spike is not the source of the pain, but rather fasciitis would still be the culprit for heel pain.
In case someone has just started running and is still not lucky enough to know about this pathology, we leave you the post where we talk about it.
Runners, many of these heel pains are familiar to you because we have told you about them ad nauseam and you have suffered from them at some point, like a wonderful fasciitis or some beautiful blisters. Others is the first time that we commented on them. For all of them we always recommend that you consult your favorite professional, the podiatrist.
Health and miles!
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