Heel Pain
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Heel Pain
Heel pain is usually the result of too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. The stress may result from many factors such as activity while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; faulty foot biomechanics; wearing poorly constructed footwear; or being overweight.
The heel bone is the largest of the 26 bones in the human foot, it is also the attachment point for the plantar fascia. Heel pain can range from a slight nagging pain to almost disabling. Heel pain can occur in the front, back, or bottom of the heel. The most common location of heel pain is on the bottom inside (medial) side of the foot near the start of the arch.
Plantar Fasciitis
Both heel pain and heel spurs are often associated with an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of fibrous connective tissue running along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the ball of the foot. The inflammation is called plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia is strained as a result of increased or over activity, poor foot biomechanics, or in association with the normal aging process. The ligament is typically strained repeatedly, over time before the onset of plantar fasciitis. As the ligament stretches beyond its normal extension it causes the soft tissues of the fascia to tear, usually at the point where attached to the heel bone. This leads to inflammation, heel pain, and possible growth of a bone spur (calcaneal spur) at the heel bone attachment.
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Heel Spurs
A common cause of heel pain is a heel spur. A heel spur (calcaneal spur) is a bony protrusion growth on the underside of the heel bone. Heel spurs most often result from strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, which causes tearing of the soft tissues surrounding the heel bone. A build up of calcium at the location of the tear causes the formation of the spur.
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