Heel Pain: Why It Happens and How Podiatry Gets You Back on Your Feet
That first step out of bed in the morning — the one that feels like a nail driving through your heel — has a name. It’s called post-static dyskinesia, and it’s the hallmark of plantar heel pain, the most common condition seen in podiatry clinics Australia-wide. If you’ve been wincing through your mornings or cutting your walks short because of heel pain, you’re not alone — and more importantly, you don’t have to live with it.
Plantar heel pain affects roughly 10% of the population at some point in their lives, with runners, people who stand for work, and those carrying extra weight at highest risk. The condition accounts for an estimated 1% of all visits to healthcare professionals — and yet a surprising number of people wait months before seeking help, hoping it will resolve on its own. It rarely does.
