Sitting, standing, lying prone or lying supine
Ask the patient to remove shoes and socks to allow direct palpation on the skin.
Lateral or posterior to the patient.
Please sit (or other position). May I touch your heel? (or demonstrate).
Guide the patient to sit (or other position). If given permission, place your fingers on the calcaneus, the large bone on the posterioplantar foot.
The calcaneal tuberosity on the plantar calcaneus has important clinical significance. The medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity is a small bony area on which the plantar aponeurosis, one of the main structures that supports the longitudinal arch of the foot, attaches. With overload on the arch supporting structures, plantar fasciitis can occur. This characteristically produces the signs of point tenderness with deep pressure with the thumb on the medial process and extreme pain at the same site with the first step after a being in bed or sitting for a long time.
The calcaneal tuberosity on the plantar calcaneus has important clinical significance. The medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity is a small bony area on which the plantar aponeurosis, one of the main structures that supports the longitudinal arch of the foot, attaches. With overload on the arch supporting structures, plantar fasciitis can occur. This characteristically produces the signs of point tenderness with deep pressure with the thumb on the medial process and extreme pain at the same site with the first step after a being in bed or sitting for a long time.
VH - Foot skeleton showing the calcaneus ñ add the Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius and soleus and plantaris on one side