The heel is the rear protrusion of the foot. It is also called the heel. This rear area of the foot must withstand extreme mechanical stress, as the heel is the first thing a person puts on when walking.
What is the heel?
When man walks, the heels of his feet are always the first to make contact with the ground. More specifically, it is the heel bone. It must withstand the greatest pressure. A natural heel of the human foot. The heel offers only a fairly small contact surface to the load. However, it has strong tendons that provide the necessary stability. In addition to the calcaneal bone, the heel consists of the calcaneal tuberosity. Without it, a person could not walk upright. It supports the rolling motion and stabilizes the Achilles tendon. The calcaneus also causes the shape of the heel. Fatty tissue is stored above the heel bone. Over it the skin pulls itself, which forms at the sides beside the Achilles tendon beginning in each case a small pit. At the back, the heel closes off by the end of the sole of the foot.
Anatomy and structure
The largest bone of the foot is the calcaneus. Its underside is uneven. The Achilles tendon begins at the posterior calcaneal tuberosity. It is the major tendon of the calf muscles and the strongest tendon in the human body. The Achilles tendon allows very powerful flexion and lateral rotation of the foot. The calcaneus is also a part of the lower ankle joint. Furthermore, bursae are located at the tendon insertion of the heel. They are located between the tendon and skin and between the tendon and bone. The bursae are small cavities filled with fluid. They form anywhere in the body where there is increased pressure. Like small shock absorbers, bursae serve to equalize pressure. Starting from the calcaneal tuberosity, the tendon plate extends along the sole of the foot. It is a tendon plate made of connective tissue-like material. Also named plantar fascia or plantar plate. This plantar fascia spreads out like a fan. Together with other tendons, strands of foot muscles as well as ligaments, it stabilizes the foot during every movement.
Function and tasks
The function of the heel is to allow the foot to move. In doing so, it must withstand the weight of the body. Thus, another important task of the heel is stabilization during stance and the corresponding cushioning of the pressure volume during locomotion. Through the heel, a person can walk, run, jump and perform a number of lateral rotations of the foot inward and outward. The importance of the heel for human locomotion only becomes apparent when its function is limited. If it is not possible to step with the heel, the person needs a walking aid. Walking only with the front foot is extremely strenuous and cannot be sustained for long. The heel stabilizes standing and enables all extensions of the foot. Even a violent step or force impact by means of the foot succeeds only by the functionality of the heel. Since the heel is exposed to many stresses, it also repeatedly comes to incorrect loads or overloads due to physical work or sports activities. Furthermore, the right footwear is an important aspect when it comes to the health of the heel. Not many heel malpositions are congenital, many are acquired.
Diseases and ailments
A more common condition of the heel is a painful heel spur. It is a bone growth in the lower heel spur. It is located underneath on the calcaneus bone and most often looks like an enlarged rose thorn. The size of the spur is often only a few millimeters. The development of a calcaneal spur is made possible by calcification of the plantar plate. There is also the variant of the rarer upper heel spur. It is also a bony outgrowth of the calcaneus, but in the area of the attachment of the Achilles tendon. The cause of calcaneal spurs is overstraining of the calcaneus. If it is overloaded, this leads to inflammation and tears. To heal these very small tears, the body forms deposits of calcium. Over a period of time, this results in the formation of a spur. Obesity and poor footwear as well as foot deformities also support the formation of a spur. Therapeutically, a heel spur can be treated by weight reduction, sparing and wearing suitable foot insoles. Furthermore, plantar fasciitis is a disease of the heel that occurs in about 10 percent of all running injuries in sports.This heel pain results from excessive stress. Very fine cracks occur at the attachment of the plantar plate to the calcaneal bone, which can trigger inflammatory processes. Anatomical peculiarities of the feet can also lead to these microcracks. Therapeutically, cooling and pain medication are recommended. Furthermore, orthopedic insoles and foot bandages for stabilization help. Pain can also be triggered by bursitis, a calcaneal fracture or dislocation of the joint.
