Surgical decisions in athletes' subcalcaneal pain.

A group of 182 patients with subcalcaneal pain related to sports activity was studied to determine injury types and patterns. Running/jogging produced the greatest percentage of subcalcaneal injuries, 76%. A survey was done of the specific types of heel pain, plantar fasciitis and median calcaneal neuritis. A review of each entity was given and surgical approach was detailed. Subcalcaneal surgical decision making is based on six specific tenets: correct diagnosis; approximately 12 months of conservative treatment; EMG for diagnosis and appropriate nerve blocks; thorough knowledge of the anatomy or complete review; patient understanding that surgery may not give a good enough result to allow the return to high performance athletics; and correct and appropriately directed surgery.