Heel Pain – Why You Should See a Podiatrist
Heel pain is one of the most common foot problems and is often felt as a sharp discomfort when taking the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest. A frequent cause is plantar fasciopathy, where the tissue supporting the arch of the foot becomes irritated due to excessive strain.
While some cases may improve with simple rest and stretching, persistent heel pain can interfere with walking, exercise and daily activities if left untreated.
A podiatrist can assess the underlying cause of your heel pain by examining foot structure, movement patterns and areas of pressure during walking. Identifying the root cause allows treatment to be targeted effectively, which may include rehabilitation advice, footwear guidance, orthotic support or therapies designed to stimulate healing.
Early assessment often leads to quicker recovery and helps prevent the condition from becoming chronic.
Phits custom Insoles and Footscan
Foot pain and lower limb discomfort are often linked to the way we move. Understanding this movement in detail is key to providing effective, long-term treatment. This is where Footscan technology and Phits insoles come in.
Footscan is an advanced gait analysis system that measures how pressure is distributed across your feet while you walk or run. Using a highly sensitive pressure plate, it captures real-time data on foot function, timing, and load patterns. This allows clinicians to identify inefficiencies or abnormalities that may not be visible during a standard assessment.
Once this data is collected, it can be used to design Phits insoles, fully custom 3D-printed orthotics tailored to your unique biomechanics. Unlike traditional insoles, Phits are created based on dynamic movement rather than static foot shape alone. This ensures a more precise fit and targeted support where your body needs it most.
The combination of Footscan and Phits insoles provides a modern, evidence-based approach to managing a wide range of conditions, from plantar fasciitis and heel pain to knee, hip, and lower back issues. By addressing the root cause of abnormal movement, this technology helps improve comfort, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of future injury.
In short, it’s not just about cushioning the foot, it’s about optimising the way you move.
Phits 3D-printed orthotic insoles are printed using a specialised, flexible Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) material. The TPU filament is specially developed to be both durable and flexible, allowing the insole to provide support while adjusting to foot movements. The material is lightweight, washable, and fire retardant.
Radial Shockwave Therapy in Podiatry: A Modern Approach to Pain Relief
Radial shockwave therapy is an evidence-based treatment increasingly used in podiatry to manage chronic foot and ankle pain. It is a safe, non-invasive treatment used in podiatry to help relieve long-standing foot and ankle pain. It works by delivering gentle, controlled pressure waves into the affected area, which stimulates the body’s natural healing response.
This treatment is commonly used for conditions such as plantar fasciitis (heel pain), Achilles tendon pain, and other soft tissue injuries. These conditions can often become “stuck” in a cycle where healing slows down. Shockwave therapy helps to restart this process by increasing blood flow, encouraging tissue repair, and reducing pain signals.
During treatment, a handheld device is placed against the skin and moved over the painful area. You may feel a tapping or pulsing sensation, which can be slightly uncomfortable but is usually very manageable. Each session typically lasts around 10–15 minutes.
Most patients require a course of 3–6 treatments, usually spaced about a week apart. Improvement is often gradual, with many patients noticing reduced pain and better function over the following weeks as the tissue heals.
One of the main advantages of radial shockwave therapy is that it avoids the need for injections or surgery. There is no downtime, so you can continue with most normal daily activities, although you may be advised to temporarily reduce high-impact exercise.
Overall, radial shockwave therapy is an effective, clinically supported option for treating persistent foot pain, helping you move more comfortably and return to your usual activities with confidence.
Radial shockwave therapy is commonly used in podiatry to treat chronic foot and ankle conditions, particularly heel pain such as plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, as well as tendon problems including Achilles, peroneal, and tibialis posterior tendinopathy. It can also help with forefoot pain like metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma, alongside other soft tissue issues such as chronic ligament pain, calf tightness, and scar tissue. It is most effective for long-standing conditions that haven’t responded to conservative treatments and for patients seeking a non-invasive alternative to injections or surgery.
Coming soon - short reads will be released periodically...watch this space!
Below Topics will be covered;
Shockwave Therapy
Heel Pain
Footscans
Orthotics
Ingrowing Toenails
Diabetic Feet
And much more Podiatry related!