APTEI: Plantar Heel Pain

Course Description

This online course will enable healthcare providers to gain practical knowledge of the possible anatomical & biomechanical factors leading to persistent heel pain and disability.

The course will review a clinically focused approach to the evaluation of persistent plantar heel pain and all the potential differential diagnoses. This course offers extensive knowledge on the differential diagnoses and causes of plantar heel pain (PHP), different ways to assess PHP, and interventions targeting PHP. 

Outcome measures/assessment tools that are discussed include:

• Weight-bearing lunge test: Dorsiflexion ROM
• Gastrocnemius length test
• Gastrocs/soleus tenderness test
• Standing heel-raise test
• Single leg balance test
• Intrinsic foot muscle control test
• Metatarso-phalangeal joint extension ROM
• Dynamic balance test/Anterior excursion reach test

Management options are provided for each of the options above, given that the individual does not perform as desired due to their PHP.

Objectives

The course will review a clinically focused approach to the evaluation of persistent plantar heel pain and all the potential differential diagnoses.

Based on current studies, the management options reviewed will include:

1. Manual therapies. No “plantar fascia stretches” will be taught; as in my humble opinion, the plantar fascia can NOT be stretched
2. Effective muscular and proprioceptive retraining exercises
3. The role of shoes and insoles
4. Knowing when there may be a central sensitization component

Audience

This online course is for physiotherapists (physical therapists) and all healthcare providers interested in the effective management of plantar heel pain

There are NO prerequisites for this course