Heel pain has a way of slowing you down. Even if you can “fight through it” for a few days, it’ll eventually slow you to the point of seeking more information on the cause.
Here’s the challenge: there are many things that can cause heel pain, ranging from minor to severe injuries and ailments.
The first thing you should do is pinpoint the part of your heel that’s causing you pain. Generally, it’ll either be on the bottom or the back of the heel.
The two most common causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis, which affects the bottom of the heel and Achilles tendinitis, which affects the back of the heel.
Here are some of the other issues you could be dealing with:
• Overuse
• Stress fracture
• Heel spur
• Joint inflammation
• Arthritis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
How you treat your heel pain depends on the cause. For example, if your pain is related to simple overuse, a few days of rest may be all that you need to recover.
However, if you’re facing a more severe issue, such as Achilles tendinitis, you may require more advanced treatment.
It’s better to be safe than sorry with your health, so don’t let your heel pain linger. Determine the cause and then take action.
Jennifer Ferdinand, owner of Serendipity Wellness Studio in Burke, VA, has been practicing massage therapy and esthetics since 2006. She is nationally certified through NCBTMB, and licensed in Virginia for both Massage Therapy and Esthetics.