Heel Pain Treatment

Causes

Some of the many causes of heel pain can include:

• Abnormal walking style (gait), such as rolling the feet inwards
• Obesity
• Ill-fitting shoes
• Standing, running or jumping on hard surfaces
• Injury to the heel, such as stress fractures
• Bursitis (inflammation of a bursa – bursae are small sacs that contain fluid to lubricate moving parts, such as joints and muscles)
• Neuroma (nerve enlargement)
• Certain disorders, including diabetes and arthritis.

Diagnosis

Depending on the condition, the cause of heel pain is diagnosed using a number of tests, including:

• Medical history
• Physical examination, including examination of joints and muscles of the foot and leg
• X-rays.
• Treatment for heel pain

Treatment can include:

• Rest from activities that stress the heel (such as running and jumping)
• Ice packs
• Regular foot massage, concentrating on the arch of the foot
• Professional strapping
• A splint worn at night
• Flexibility exercises
• Ultrasound therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medicine (topical or oral)
• Checking your posture and walking style, to correct imbalances and gait abnormalities that may contribute to the pain
• Shoe inserts (orthoses) to help support the foot
• In some cases, surgery may be recommended to treat conditions including neuroma, bursitis and heel spurs.