What’s Making Your Heel Hurt?

At NY Foot Health, we know heel pain is one of the most common podiatric problems patients experience. Tracking down the source of heel pain can be tricky, however, as there is a wide range of potential causes. Below are some to check if you are experiencing discomfort in this part of the foot.

Arthritis—your heel bone is the largest in your foot, and it operates in conjunction with joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Inflammation in a heel joint, joint lining, or cartilage stemming from osteo or rheumatoid arthritis or gout is all possibilities.

Plantar Fasciitis—the plantar fascia, a long band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, can also be the source of heel pain. When the plantar fascia overstretches due to sports, excessive walking, or a biomechanical malfunction such as flat feet, it becomes inflamed. This results in pain, which extends to the heel and can also cause bony heel spurs to develop.

Footwear—shoes that lack adequate arch support can aggravate plantar fasciitis described above. Interestingly, many patients who have spent the last year mostly staying home are noticing hurting heels because of the amount of time spent in slippers or barefoot! In addition, your shoes should fit properly, have supportive heel counters and shock-absorbent soles to decrease the risk of heel pain.

Weight Gain—another unwanted side effect from the stay-at-home orders is the “quarantine 15” or more. An American Psychological Association survey found that 42% of adults gained an average of 29 pounds! It puts incredible strain on your feet and can be a source of heel and other foot pain.

The bottom line is if you have unexplained heel pain, it’s important that you get it evaluated by a podiatrist. If you don’t currently have a podiatrist, you can find one with our online directory. To learn more about heel pain or other foot and ankle conditions, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.