Causes of Heel Pain
A bad heel pain can limit your activities. While most people will experience either a right or left heel pain, some do experience a bilateral heel pain.
What is Heel Pain?
But what is heel pain? The heel is made up of the largest bone in the foot, called the calcaneus bone, which is located at the back of the foot below the ankle. Attached to it are the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the foot, and the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs the length of your foot from the heel to the ball of the foot (the area below the toes). Heel and foot pain usually involves these structures, which are often overused from repeated exercise and other daily activities.
One of the most common heel pain causes is an inflammation of the plantar fascia (plantar fasciitis). Gradual wear and tear from repetitive activities such as running, or sudden damage to this thick band at the bottom of the foot can cause plantar fasciitis, which leads to heel pain. Other factors, such as wearing ill-fitting shoes or worn out shoes, obesity, and poor arch support can also lead to heel pain and plantar fasciitis.
Pain at the back of the heel may be due to Achilles tendonitis, which is usually caused by repeated stress on the tendon, leading to heel pain and inflammation. Runners are often affected, but middle-aged people who play sports involving walking, running, or jumping only on weekends may also experience acute heel pain.
Other causes of heel pain include:
- Stress fracture on the heel bone
- Bursitis, or inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sacs) between tendons and bones
- Wearing out or atrophy of the fat pad under the heel
- Nerve compression near the heel (tarsal tunnel syndrome)
- Bone spurs (small bone growths)
- Traumatic bone bruise (heel strike pain occurs after stepping on a rock)
- Other medical conditions such as gout or arthritis, which affects the heel
A chiropractor for heel pain therapy can help you find solutions to ease your symptoms, using manipulation methods and heel pain treatment exercises. Consult a chiropractor to get relief for heel problems and pain.
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