Helping and Preventing Heel Pain

1. Helping and Preventing Heel Pain

2. There are many ways to prevent and resolve
heel pain. The solutions don’t have to be
medical in nature.
Causes of Heel Pain
Pain in the heel impacts the bottom of the
foot and back of the heel. The most common
cause of pain on the bottom of the heel is
plantar fasciitis. The back of the heel pain is
likely due to Achilles tendinitis. Heel pain can
cause problems with daily activities, such as
walking and exercise. There are many other
causes of heel pain, including arthritis,
neuropathy, fractures, tarsal tunnel
syndrome, gout, bursitis, heel spurs,
osteomyelitis, and more.1 Heel pain can
occur easily: “Every mile you walk puts 60
tons of stress on each foot”.

3. Exercising or walking on hard surfaces can irritate the heel. Continuing with
stressful activities when the heel is already injured can lead to more problems.
One type of injury under the heel is a “stone bruise”, due to stepping on a hard
object. The fat pad of the heel becomes bruised in this situation. Wearing
shoes that rub the back of the heel, or running too much, can trigger back of the
heel pain, such as Achilles tendinitis. A heel spur is a calcium deposit, caused
when plantar fasciitis is not resolved. Read more.