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Heel Pain Physio Melbourne
Eastside Physio + Co diagnoses and treats heel pain, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles pain. A lot of heel pain improves without surgery or injections once the underlying cause is identified and treated with the right rehabilitation program. We help people across Melbourne's eastern suburbs from our Surrey Hills clinic, and you do not need a GP referral to book.
What causes heel pain?
Heel pain usually traces to one of a few causes, and where it hurts is the first clue. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain under the heel. Achilles tendinopathy is the most common cause of pain at the back of the heel. If your pain is coming from the ankle joint itself rather than the heel, see our ankle pain page.
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Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is irritation of the plantar fascia where it attaches to the heel bone, or calcaneus. It typically causes sharp pain with your first steps in the morning or after sitting. Plantar fasciitis is common in runners and in anyone who stands all day or ramps up their load quickly.
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Achilles tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy creates pain and stiffness at the back of the heel, which is the area where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone. It is sometimes referred to as “Achilles tendonitis”, but the problem is actually most often the tendon reacting to load and not a simple case of inflammation. It usually follows an increase in running or training.
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Heel spurs
Heel spurs are small bony growths on the heel bone. These are commonly seen on x-rays, even in people without heel pain, and this means that a spur on your scan is usually a marker of long-term plantar fascia strain and isn’t the source of the pain. Settling the symptoms lies in treating the fascia, not the spur.
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Less common causes
Less often, heel pain comes from retrocalcaneal bursitis, where the sac between the Achilles and the heel bone is irritated. This is an uncommon cause of heel pain. Fat pad irritation, a bruising of the natural cushion under the heel, is another cause. In active children and teenagers, Sever's disease affects the growth plate at the back of the heel.
How we diagnose the cause of your heel pain
Whatever the cause, we diagnose heel pain clinically using your health history and a physical examination. This includes assessing how you walk, how you bear weight, and how the foot and ankle move. The majority of heel pain cases are diagnosed this way without ever needing imaging. The only time you need an x-ray or MRI is when your history or examination suggests a condition that would change the treatment plan, such as a suspected fracture or a full tendon tear.
Some types of heel pain need urgent medical assessment rather than a routine physiotherapy appointment. If you have injured your heel in a fall or direct impact and you are unable to put any weight on your heel, or your heel has become hot, swollen and red, you need to see a doctor immediately.
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How physiotherapy treats heel pain
Physiotherapy is often the first treatment for heel pain because it addresses the underlying cause rather than just the symptoms. We focus on rehabilitation instead of prolonged rest. Our approach is evidence-based and aims to reduce pain while restoring mobility at a pace your body can tolerate.
By gradually increasing load and strengthening your calf, foot, ankle and plantar fascia, we help the tissues adapt so they can cope with everyday activity again. Manual therapy can help ease discomfort while your tissues recover and adapt to loading.
Education and self-management keep the plan on track, including home exercises and, where they help, short-term use of ice packs or night splints. MLS laser therapy is another of the treatment options we offer for stubborn cases. Exercise-based rehabilitation is the most effective treatment for plantar fasciitis and Achilles pain, so every plan includes it, and passive treatment on its own rarely works.
Care is tailored to your activity level and goals, so a runner and a worker on their feet do not get the same program. Conservative treatments settle most heel pain. Corticosteroid or cortisone injections and surgery are last-resort options that sit with a GP or surgeon, not first-line care.
Shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis and Achilles pain
Shockwave therapy is an evidence-supported, non-invasive treatment for stubborn plantar heel pain and Achilles pain that has not settled with exercise alone. Shockwave therapy delivers pulses of acoustic energy to the sore tissue to stimulate tissue repair. A session takes a few minutes, and most people feel firm pressure rather than sharp pain. It supports your exercise program rather than replacing it, because the loading work is what creates lasting change. Shockwave can be an effective option when a loading program alone has not settled the pain, and we offer it on site at our Surrey Hills clinic.
Should I see a physio or a podiatrist for heel pain?
Both physiotherapists and podiatrists treat heel pain, so the honest answer depends on what is driving yours. Physiotherapy is particularly effective for heel pain caused by repetitive loading, movement patterns, and tendon or plantar fascia problems. Podiatrists focus on foot structure and are the right choice for custom orthotics and for nail or skin conditions of the foot. You do not need a GP referral to start with physiotherapy, and if we find that podiatry or orthotic therapy is the better path, we will tell you.
See a physiotherapist for:
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Plantar fasciitis and Achilles pain from load or training
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Calf and foot strengthening and movement control
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Return-to-running and return-to-work rehabilitation
See a podiatrist for:
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Custom orthotics for foot structure and alignment
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Nail and skin conditions of the foot
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Footwear and orthotic assessment
Clinic information
Eastside Physio + Co has treated Melbourne's eastern suburbs from our Surrey Hills clinic since 2017, with more than 6,300 clients.
Address: 427 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills VIC 3127
Phone: (03) 9836 1333
Email: info@esphysio.com.au
Referral: none needed to book. Medicare rebates need a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.
Private health: claim on the spot via HICAPS, all major insurers.
WorkCover, TAC and NDIS clients welcome.
Parking: there are three onsite parking bays at the front of the building and two at the rear. Additional street parking is available on Canterbury Road and the adjoining streets.
Book a heel pain assessment in Melbourne's eastern suburbs
For heel pain treatment close to home, book an assessment online or call (03) 9836 1333. Our clinic is at 427 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills, serving Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and you do not need a referral to book. For rebate and funding details, see our new patient information.
We treat clients from across Melbourne's eastern suburbs, including Doncaster, Blackburn, Box Hill, Camberwell, Canterbury, Balwyn, Hawthorn, Burwood, Ashburton, Ashwood and Auburn.