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Treatment of Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis 
The most common causes of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitisis the inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a broad band of tissue whichoriginates from the heel, runs along the sole of the foot and connects to the toes.The plantar fascia works like a rubber band between the heel and the ball of your foot toform the arch of your foot. If the band is short, you'll have a high arch, and if it's long, you'llhave a low arch, what some people call flat feet. A pad of fat in your heel covers the plantarfascia to help absorb the shock of walking. Plantar fasciitis is often referred to as a heel spurwhich is a calcium deposit in the plantar fascia attachment. The heel spur does not causepain.
Taping
 Athletic tape is applied to the plantar fascia and works be reducing tension by preventing thefascia from stretching.The tape is strapped from the heel to the base of the toes. Tension ismaintained by the tape thus allowing the fascia to rest and heal. The tape has to stick to theskin for it to work due to the tension being transferred through to the skin. Specific athletictape should be used. Podiatrists recommend that the tape be applied every morning andremoved every evening to allow the skin to breathe.
Shoe Inserts
 Shoe inserts are by far the most effective treatment used to manage plantar fasciitis. Theyhelp reduce stress at key weight points. Keep each foot properly aligned and cradle, whichstabilizes your heels. A strategically placed heel insert made of poron foam absorbs thepounding foot shock of each step.
Rest
 Initially you should decrease any strenuous activities such as sports and long walks to allowinflammation in the fascia to decrease.
Ice and Heat
 Proven therapy for plantar fasciitis by alternating application of heat and cold coupled withmassage works wonders to relieve pain, reduce swelling and promote healing. Use ice packin morning and heat pack in the evening.Hot/Cold Packs provide therapy that's constantly in touch with sore muscles, tendons andtissue. Microwave or freeze the packs depending on the desired treatment cold therapy isespecially beneficial in the treatment of plantar fasciitis (heel pain). Apply cold therapyinitially and heat therapy when the heel is in the healing phase.
Night Splints
 Heel pain night splints maintain the ankle in a upward position and toe extension, creating aconstant mild stretch of the plantar fascia that allows it to heal at a functional length.
 
Speed up the heeling process of plantar fasciitis FXT Night Splints with this low profile,thermal lined bootie from Swede-O. The PF FXT allows you to sleep comfortably while gentlystretching out the plantar fascia, the band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to thetoe. Slip on the bootie and adjust the dorsal flexion (amount of tension) to pull back the toestowards the ankle.
Stretching
 One of the most effective treatment options for plantar fasciitis is stretching. Tightness inthe plantar fascia occurs if the achilles tendon and calf muscles tension increases. Tighteningin these muscles increases dorsiflexion (upward movement) of the large toe which stretchesthe plantar fascia causing it to inflame.Therefore it makes sense that reduction of the tightness of the Achilles tendon and calf muscles will have a positive effect on heel pain.Example StretchPlantar fascia-specific stretch. Patient crosses affected foot over contralateral leg, grasps thebase of toes, and pulls the toes back towards the shin, until a stretch in the arch is felt. Thestretch is held for 10 seconds and repeated. Three sets of 10 repetitions are performeddaily.
Corticosteroid Injections
 Limited evidence supports the use of corticosteroid injections to manage plantar fasciitis. Ihave known patients that have had a corticosteriod injections in the heel by their doctor andthey have reported extreme pain with very little benefit.
Emu Muscle and Joint Gel
 This gel, blended with Blackpepper and Eucalyptus Essential Oil is excellent for relievingmuscular aches such as heel pain.Directions: gently rub in a thin coat of gel to the affected area. Repeat up to four times dailywith 3-4 hours between applications. If symptoms persist, consult a health professional.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
 A relatively new treatment option for heel pain is ESWT which involves the usage of highintensity sound waves to cause neovascularization (tissue repair). ESWT should be used inconjuciton with other conservative options such as stretching, orthotics, activitymodifications and maintaining a healthy weight. The success of ESWT is difficult to establishdue to different levels of intensity being use by different practitioners. However, anecdotalevidence suggests that this treatment option can be successful, ESWT is not available in allpodiatrist surgeries and is generally only available in specialist clinics.
Casting
 Casting is rarely a treatment option for heel pain. Podiatrists have applied well-paddedfiberglass walking casts with the ankle in a neutral to slight dorsiflexion (upward position).
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