Heel pain is common, but not all heel pain is the same. Heel pain can be caused by many reasons, including fractures, arthritis, and gout. However, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis are also common causes that are easy to mix up. If you would like to know more about plantar fasciitis vs. Achilles tendonitis, keep reading.

What Areas Are Affected?

Your foot has lots of tendons, ligaments, and other tissues that help everything move. Tendons, for example, connect muscle to bone, which makes it possible for the muscles to move the bones. Along the bottom of your foot runs the plantar fascia. This ligament connects the front of the foot to the back of the foot, and it absorbs a lot of weight. If this ligament becomes inflamed, irritated, or shortened, it can cause plantar fasciitis.

Along the back of your calf runs the Achilles tendon. It connects the calf muscles to the heel and makes it possible to flex your foot. If this tendon becomes irritated or damaged, it can lead to Achilles tendonitis.

What Are the Symptoms?

The leading symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain, especially when you put weight on your foot. Walking exacerbates the pain. The pain may run along the arch of your foot, but many people feel pain at the heel where the ligament connects to the heel. Your heel may also be swollen, and your Achilles tendon may be tight too.

If you have Achilles tendonitis, you may not notice any discomfort until during or after you've been active. The pain usually resides in the back of the leg, and you may also have stiffness. The pain can reach all the way down to the back of the heel. Ultimately, if you have pain on the bottom of your heel, it may be plantar fasciitis, but if the pain is on the back of the heel, you may be dealing with Achilles tendonitis.

What Are the Causes?

The cause of plantar fasciitis is usually pressure or over-stretching. This can happen because of your shoes or the shape of your foot, but it's often caused by standing for long periods of time, exercising without stretching the calves, being overweight, and being incredibly active.

Achilles tendonitis is typically caused by repetitive strain. Again, you may have a higher risk of you have high arches or wear inappropriate shoes, but anyone can develop tendonitis from repetitive regular movements, such as running, or because you suddenly increased the intensity of your workout.

What Are the Treatments?

In most cases, both conditions are treated with home care, rest, and physical therapy to regain strength and range of motion. As the area heals, the inflammation goes away, allowing the ankle to work properly again.

However, if the ligament or tendon was severely damaged, surgery may be required to repair it. In rare cases, even if the ligament or tendon weren't damaged, you may need surgery to lengthen the calf muscle or release the plantar fascia.

Heel pain is annoying and can make walking impossible or painful. Luckily, a good podiatrist can help you determine the cause of your pain. For more information on heel pain treatment, contact a professional near you.

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