Heel Pain

Heel pain is a common affliction that affects a wide range of people. Usually, the heel pain is a result of a certain condition called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a condition when the plantar fascia tissue that lies across the bottom of the feet is inflamed or irritated. The pain may be experienced the moment the moment you stand up on your feet in the morning. The pain may also occur after a long walk or when you kept standing for a long duration. Besides pain, you may also experience, swelling and numbness around the heel. Although heel pain can affect anybody, sportspersons, overweight people, and pregnant women are found to be more at risk. Heel pain may also affect you if you are not careful about your footwear. Ill-fitting and uncomfortable footwear can also induce heel pain. Occasional heel pain can be managed with a little bit of medication and some amount of physiotherapy. However, if the pain do not lessen and continues to cause trouble, you may need to consult a doctor. Sometimes, surgical procedures may also be needed to cure the heel pain completely. There are a few things you can do to ease the pain and prevent it from occurring. When in pain, give your feet an ample amount of rest. Do not put too much stress on the feet by jogging, walking or doing other exercises. You need not avoid exercise completely, but do refrain from exercises that put too much stress on your feet.

An ice pack is a good remedy for easing a heel pain. Apply the ice pack on the painful area and keep it pressed for about 10-15 minutes. This should provide relief when you are in pain. Wear shoes that have protective cushioning at the base to support your feet. High-heeled and ill-fitting shoes should not be worn as they create unnecessary pressure on the feet and aggravate the pain. Meanwhile, you can also do a couple of foot exercises to deal with heel pain. Sit down on a flat surface (on the floor or bed) and stretch out your legs in front of you. Now, stretch your arms, touch the toes, and try to pull them towards you.

Stand in front of a wall, lean towards it with your arms outstretched, and touch the wall. Now put one foot in front of the other with an entire stride’s space between the two. The foot in front should be directly under the outstretched arms and the foot at the back should stay behind your leaning body. Keep the heel of the foot that is further behind flat on the ground and bend the knee of the foot in front without lifting the heel from the ground. Your back foot muscles will stretch when doing this. Remain in this posture for about 10 seconds and then repeat the exercise by altering the position of legs.