What is the Black Heel?
Black heel — also known as calcaneal petechiae or talon noir — is a minor but visible injury that often appears as dark spots or bruising on the heel of young athletes. It typically occurs due to repeated microtrauma or sudden friction during quick stops, jumps, or direction changes on hard surfaces. Though not dangerous, it can cause discomfort and be mistaken for more serious conditions. In this article, we explain what black heel is, what causes it in youth basketball, and what can be done to prevent it and ensure safe play.
Definition
The heel black is an injury that occurs when there is bleeding under the nail of the big toe. This causes the appearance of a dark spot under the nail, you can go from a dark red to a black color. The injury is usually very painful and can make it difficult to walk and perform daily activities.
Causes
The heel black is usually caused by a trauma to the foot, such as a sharp blow or repeated in the heel area. This can occur during the practice of sports, such as football or basketball, or during everyday activities, such as running or walking long distances.
It can also be caused by the use of inappropriate footwear, such as shoes that are too narrow or high heels, which can put pressure on the area of the heel and cause bleeding under the nail.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of heel black is usually clinical, that is to say, that is done through the observation of the lesion and the clinical history of the patient. The professional physical therapy can perform a physical examination of the foot to assess the severity of the injury and rule out other possible causes of pain in the heel.
In some cases, it may be necessary to perform imaging tests, like an x-ray or an mri, to rule out possible fractures or other injuries in the foot.
Treatment
The treatment of heel black depends on the severity of the injury. In mild cases, it may be enough with rest and application of ice to the affected area. You can also take anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and inflammation.
In more severe cases, it may be necessary to drain the bleeding under the toenail to relieve pressure and reduce pain. This can be done through a small incision in the nail.
In any case, it is important that the patient see a professional physical therapy to advise you on the most suitable treatment for your particular case.
Rehabilitation
Once the injury has begun to heal, it may be necessary to perform rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve mobility of the foot.
These exercises may include stretching exercises to improve flexibility of the muscles and tendons of the foot strengthening exercises to improve endurance and muscle strength, and balance exercises to improve stability of the foot.
It is important that these exercises be conducted under the supervision of a professional physical therapy to avoid a possible relapse
Back action
The return to action will depend on the severity of the injury and the treatment received. In mild cases, it may be possible to return to the sport or physical activity after a few days of rest and treatment. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to a rehabilitation period longer before returning to the activity.
It is important that the patient follow the recommendations of the professional physical therapy to prevent a relapse, and prevent future injuries. This may include the use of proper footwear and the practice of stretching and strengthening exercises to maintain the health of the foot.
Note: this article is only intended to be informational use. In any case self-diagnose. If you suffer from any medical condition, we recommend that you go to your physical therapy clinic of confidence.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
Bibliography and Webgrafía
- Orthopedics Silva. Heel black: causes, symptoms and treatment.
- University clinic of Navarra. Sports injuries of the foot. Available in: https://www.cun.es/enfermedades-tratamientos/enfermedades/lesiones-deportivas-pie
- Physiotherapy Online. Heel black: treatment and prevention. Available in: https://www.fisioterapia-online.com/articulos/talon-negro-tratamiento-y-prevencion
- Spanish association of Physiotherapists. The role of physiotherapy in the treatment of sports injuries. Available in:
- Teknon Medical Center. Sports injuries of the foot: diagnosis and treatment.
