Heel pad syndrome

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Heel pad syndrome
Other namesHeel fat pad syndrome, heel pad atrophy, heel fat pad atrophy
Specialty Podiatry

Heel pad syndrome is a pain that occurs in the center of the heel. [1] It is typically due to atrophy of the fat pad which makes up the heel. Risk factors include obesity. [1] Other conditions with similar symptoms include plantar fasciitis. [1] Treatment includes rest, pain medication, and heel cups. [1] It becomes more common with age. [1]

Contents

Signs and symptoms

Diagnosis

The main differential diagnosis of heel pad syndrome is plantar fasciitis. In heel pad syndrome all parts of the heel are tender while in plantar fasciitis typically only the part of the heel closer to the toes is sore. [2]

Treatment

Manual therapy and exercise have better efficacy in the long term than electrophysical agents and exercise for function, but not for pain. [3] Manual therapy and exercise are preferably focused at stretching the plantar fascia. [4] [ why? ]

Foot orthoses however do not appear to help with heel pain. [5] [ why? ]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tu, P; Bytomski, JR (15 October 2011). "Diagnosis of heel pain". American Family Physician. 84 (8): 909–16. PMID   22010770.
  2. Anderson, Bruce Carl (2006). Office orthopedics for primary care : diagnosis. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier. p. 239. ISBN   9781416022077.
  3. Rasoulian, McElfresh, Elliott, Rodriguez. "Heel Fat Pad Syndrome - A Clinical Management Guideline" (PDF). PT Coop.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2016-06-03.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) August 2012
  4. Vinod K Panchbhavi (2016-04-18). "Plantar Heel Pain Treatment & Management". Medscape .
  5. Rasenberg, N; Riel, H; Rathleff, MS; Bierma-Zeinstra, SMA; van Middelkoop, M (19 March 2018). "Efficacy of foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 52 (16): 1040–1046. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097892 . PMID   29555795.
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