Stamping out heel pain

A University of Queensland researcher requires participants for a study investigating the characteristics of heel pain.

Ali Alshami from the Division of Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will compare special novel tests used to diagnose this common problem.

“Different structures may cause the pain and to date little is known about the characteristics of this pain, how to evaluate it and how to treat it,” Mr Alshami said.

“We are currently conducting research with the main purpose of investigating the characteristics of pain in patients with heel pain to recommend the most appropriate clinical tests. Follow up research will also study treatment options.”

Mr Alshami is seeking volunteers aged between 18 and 60-years-old who have had heel pain in the sole of the foot for more than six weeks.

Tests will be conducted for approximately two hours over two sessions.

Volunteers must not have had wide-spread leg pain, sciatica, fractures of the lower limb bones or rheumatoid arthritis during the past two years.

Participants should contact Ali Alshami (telephone 07 3365 4691) or (email a.alshami@shrs.uq.edu.au).

Media: for more information contact Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479).