Health Encyclopedia

Heel pain

Alternative Names

Pain - heel

Common Causes

The most frequent causes of heel pain are not single injuries, such as a fall or twist, but repetitive or excessive heel pounding.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick connective tissue on the sole of your foot that attaches to your heel. The pain is usually felt at the bottom of your heel and is often worse in the morning because of stiffness that occurs overnight. The following increase your risk of developing this painful problem:

Shoes with poor arch support or stiff soles
Quick turns that put stress on your foot
Tight calf muscles
Repetitive pounding on your feet from long-distance running, especially running downhill or on uneven surfaces
Pronation -- landing on the outside of your foot and roll inward when walking or running; to know if you pronate, check the soles of your shoes to see if they are worn along the outer edge

Bone spurs in the heel can accompany plantar fasciitis, but are generally not the source of the pain. If you treat the plantar fasciitis appropriately, the bone spur is likely to no longer bother you.

Heel bursitis (inflammation of the back of the heel) can be caused by landing hard or awkwardly on the heel, or by pressure from shoes.

Achilles tendinitis is inflammation of the large tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel. This can be caused by:

Running, especially on hard surfaces like concrete
Tightness and lack of flexibility in your calf muscles
Shoes with inadequate stability or shock absorption
Sudden inward or outward turning of your heel when hitting the ground

Home Care

Rest as much as possible for at least a week.
Apply ice to the painful area. Do this at least twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes, more often in the first couple of days.
Take acetaminophen for pain or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation.
Wear proper-fitting shoes.
A heel cup, felt pads in the heel area, or an orthotic device may help.
Night splints can help some types of heel pain.

Additional steps:

Apply moleskin to avoid pressure if you have bursitis.
See a physical therapist to learn stretching and strengthening exercises. These help prevent plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis from returning.

Call your health care provider if

Your pain is getting worse despite home treatment
There is little progress after 2 to 3 weeks of home treatment
Your pain is sudden and severe
You have redness or swelling of your heel or you cannot bear weight

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination, including a full exam of your feet and legs.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

Have you have had this type of heel pain before? If so, what was the diagnosis and what caused the problem?
When did this episode of pain begin?
Where exactly is your pain?
Is the pain dull and aching or sharp and stabbing?
Is it worse after you exercise?
Is it worse when you are standing?
Do you have any swelling or redness of your heel?
Have you had a fall or have you twisted your foot recently?
Are you a runner? How far do you run? How often do you run? On what type of surface do you run?
Do you walk or stand on your feet for long periods of time?
What kind of shoes do you wear?
Do you have any other symptoms?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include a foot x-ray, focusing on the heel.

If either plantar fasciitis or bursitis is diagnosed and if shoe changes and the use of orthotics have not been successful, cortisone injections may be tried. Surgery is a last resort and is seldom necessary.

If Achilles tendinitis is diagnosed, anti-inflammatory medicine may be prescribed. Heel lifts may be used. In particularly unresponsive cases, a walking cast may be helpful. Surgery is not usually necessary.

Prevention

To prevent plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, maintain flexible and strong muscles in your calves, ankles, and feet. Always stretch and warm-up prior to athletic activities.

Wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes with good arch support and cushioning. If you pronate, look for athletic shoes with an antipronation device. If orthotics are prescribed by your provider, wear them in all of your shoes, not just while exercising.

References

Schroeder BM. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: Diagnosis and treatment of heel pain. Am Fam Physician. 2002; 65(8): 1686, 1688.

American College of Radiology (ACR), Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging. Chronic foot pain. Reston, VA: American College of Radiology; 2002.

Review Date:7/25/2007
Reviewed By:Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Orthopedist, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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