Heel Pain

Pain in the bottom of the foot is commonly classed as heel pain. Heel pain can be caused by many factors but commonly starts by inflammation to the ligament inside the arch of your foot (fascia) which is connected to the heel bone. At Better Braces we have you supported, our products ranging from Aircast Heel Support to DonJoy heel cups. You can have peace of mind as we have price match and money back guarantees.

Three main causes of Heel Pain

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis occurs as a result of constant stress caused to the arch ligament. This is common in active people who take part in sports that require high levels of running, and continuous impact on the heels. The ligament becomes tight, and strains its attachment to the heel, causing pain to the heel whenever pressure is applied to the ligament. The correct support will reduce the stress caused to your heels and can allow you to have higher endurance.

Achilles tendinitis

Another producer of heel pain is Achilles tendinitis.  Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain at the back of the heel. Pain can be felt whenever actions that require the calf muscles take place, such as standing on the balls of the foot and tensing the calf muscle.  

Arthritis and other causes

Arthritis will also cause pain in the joints surrounding the heel. Other contributors include:

 Heel bursitis: inflammation of the fluid sac (bursa) at the back of the heel bone.

• Stress fracture: Is the result of overuse, causing tiny hairline cracks or fractures in the heel bone over time.
• Heel spurs: is a bony growth underneath or at the back of the heel bone, if the pain is underneath the bone it is closely associated with fasciitis and treated similarly.
• Wear and tear of the heel pad.
• Excessive weight gain: can cause stress and stretching of the arch ligament.

Overcoming and treating Heel Pain

There are a number of factors that can contribute to heel pain, so we highly suggest if you have heel pain that persists, contact your local GP or podiatrist to enquire about what is causing the pain and how to treat it.

In the case of mild heel pain, you can treat yourself using simple treatments such as:

• Ice/cryotherapy: applying an ice pack directly to the heel for 5-10 minutes a day can help relieve pain temporarily by moderating inflammation in the affected area.
• Resting: if your heel pain is being caused by an excessive amount of physical activity such as running – you can help your body recover by simply resting and lessening the amount of activity you’re engaging in.
• Insoles/orthotics: insoles and orthotics are designed to support the arches and rest of the foot. They assist in straightening the alignment of the foot and ankle, relieving stress and pressure to other muscles and joints.

For more information on how our products such as the “Aircast Airheel” can provide foot support and help relieve heel pain, click here or contact us now!