About 10% of people are at high risk of developing acute and recurring heel pain, with adults in their 40s and 60s being particularly prone to the condition. There are occasions when the cause of a sore heel is evident. For example, you may have stepped on a Lego detail or caught a floorboard splinter.
However, the root causes of heel pain aren’t often obvious. It may be quite unsettling not to know the precise cause of your aching heel, particularly if it is making routine activities difficult. Additionally, if you try to avoid bearing your weight on your problematic heel, you can develop an irregular gait.
Let’s now look at some of the more prevalent culprits behind heel pain as well as ways of diagnosis and treatment.
1. Heel fissures
Your feet’s skin is prone to dryness because it produces less natural oils than other parts of your body. The painful cracks that can develop when skin is extremely dry are referred to as “heel fissures.” If your heel pain is coming from cracked skin, it’s crucial to see a specialist, particularly if you haven’t been using high-quality foot products on a regular basis.
The pressure your heels endure from walking can lead to dry, stiff skin opening, resulting in the formation of cracks. It can also enlarge and deepen existing fissures. Carrying extra weight or walking on hard, unforgiving surfaces may aggravate the problem.
You are more likely to develop heel fissures if diabetes compromises the health of your feet. For instance, nerve loss may impair your body’s ability to detect when it’s time for your feet to sweat, leaving you with irritable, dry skin that is more prone to cracking.
Fissures can be deep and bleeding, often resulting information of severe infections. They stop the skin from serving as a reliable barrier against bacteria and are essentially open sores that need to be treated right away.
2. Plantar fasciitis
A crucial band of shock-absorbing tissue that runs down your sole is called the plantar fascia. It becomes inflamed if it sustains an injury (from strenuous activity or inadequate shoe cushioning, for instance). This condition, referred to as plantar fasciitis, causes excruciating stabbing pain around the base of your heel, close to the heel bone. The pain is typically at its peak when you get on your feet first thing in the morning.
Two tried-and-true methods of treating plantar fasciitis include foot-strengthening exercises and custom orthotics that relieve pressure from the injured tissue.
3. Heel spurs
Pain that results from heel spurs is as bad as it sounds. These bony protrusions, which are typically about an inch long and pierce the surrounding tissue, cause excruciating agony, especially when exercising.
An injury leads to calcium deposits accumulating in the heel bone, resulting in heel spurs. While more calcium helps strengthen the heel, too much of it might be harmful. Heel spurs are frequently developed by dancers who strain their feet to the utmost. Non-invasive methods like using orthotics may effectively cure painful heel spurs.
4. Achilles tendonitis
Your Achilles tendon attaches your calf muscles to your heel bone. It could become irritating because you went beyond your limits on the treadmill. Achilles tendonitis can cause back of the heel and leg pain. Your symptoms may be mild or severe.
This condition most frequently occurs in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. It also has to do with the additional stress that flat feet place on the tendon. Foot mobility and manipulation, a gentle, hands-on approach to improving foot function, can help alleviate pain.
