What is Heel Pain?

Heel pain is often the result of faulty biomechanics that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it.

While walking, gait abnormalities are often to blame, stress may also result from injury or bruising incurred while walking, running or jumping on hard surfaces, wearing poorly constructed footwear or being overweight.

The heel bone is the largest of the 26 bones in the human foot, which also has 33 joints and a network of more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Like all bones, the heel bone is subject to outside influences that can affect its integrity and ability to keep us on our feet. Heel pain can occur in the front, back, or bottom of the heel.

Causes

Heel pain has two separate categories:

1. Heel pain syndrome is caused by over-use repetitive stress, which refers to a soreness resulting from too much impact on a specific area of the foot. This condition can be caused by shoes with heels that are too low, a thinned out fat pad in the heel area, or a sudden increase in activity.
2. Plantar fasciitis, a very common diagnosis of heel pain, is usually caused from a biomechanical problem, such as over-pronation or flat feet. The pain from this condition is often most intense in the morning or after a prolonged period of rest and then subsides as the day progresses.

Prevention and Treatment

When treating heel pain, shock absorption, cushioning and heel elevation are used to transfer pressure away from the heel. This can be accomplished with a heel cup, heel cradle, or an orthotic designed with materials that will absorb shock and shear forces.

When the condition is pronation-related, as is the case with plantar fasciitis, an orthotic with medial posting and sturdy arch support can control pronation and prevent inflammation of the plantar fascia.

Footwear selection is also important when treating heel pain. Shoes with a firm heel counter, proper arch support and appropriate heel height are the ideal choice.

Call 800.447.0151 or email us to know more about which PAL products are best for heel pain!