Heel Pain

The medical term for this type of pain is ‘plantar fasciitis’ and is more often called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present.

There are a variety of other causes of heel pain such as tendonitis and a stress fracture.
It is best to visit your GP to establish the cause of your pain. They may refer you to a specialist in order to ensure that the correct diagnosis is met.

The band of tissue which runs from the heel to the toes is called the plantar fascia and when this becomes inflamed then this can cause serious pain. It will initially become irritated then become inflamed resulting in pain felt in the heel area.

The pain felt is often worse in the morning or after having been sitting or lying for any period of time. When walking, the band of tissue becomes stretched and pliable hence the need for people who experience this type of pain to remain mobile for as long as possible.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis/ Heel spur

The foot itself is made up of a number of small bones. The amount of pressure put on the feet is immense and so this makes them more prone to niggling injuries.
People with high arches or flat feet are more prone to develop this condition.

Heel pain treatment

It is important if you have this condition not to spend long periods of time on your feet. It is also important to loose weight if you are overweight.

There are also a variety of measures that you can undertake yourself to assist in reducing the pain caused. These include have some form of footwear on your feet at all times and avoid going bare foot. Make sure your footwear provides adequate support and having a slightly raised arch or insole will reduce the pressure placed on the plantar fascia.
Place an ice pack on your heel for ten minutes every day. This will reduce any swelling and inflammation around the area.
Try and not put any unnecessary strain on the area and avoid any physical exercise that will do so. If in doubt…leave it out!

After having tried these simple solutions and you are still experiencing pain then a visit to your GP is a must as there may be further underlying causes.