Many people suffer from heel pain that is so excruciating that it may prevent experiencing certain things in life. Foot heel pain is one of the most common foot ailments among people today. The discomfort can start off as an irritating pain that you feel once in a while, and escalate into a sharp pain that is felt every day. Sometimes, a hurting heel can go away on its own, but, if left untreated, this type of foot ailment can get much worse.

Heel pain is usually felt in two main sections of the heel, under the heel and in the back of the heel. In most cases, when people feel pain in the back of the heel it is related to overuse or inflammation of the Achilles tendon. When people experience plantar fascia pain, it can be caused by a person stepping on a large stone or rock which bruises the heel, or the plantar fascia can be inflamed. A heel that is bruised from a sharp object will heal on its own over time. Nonetheless, if the heel pain is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, there are a few things that need to be done to help including foot stretching exercises and orthotics.

The heel is connected to the toes by soft tissue called the plantar fascia. Under regular conditions, the plantar fascia is a flexible and strong region of the foot that enables the foot to hold up our weight and helps us to maintain our balance. If the foot is facing abnormal stress, such as excessive body weight, repetitive movements from sports, age or compromised foot function, it can create small tears in the plantar fascia. These minuscule tears usually develop near the heel bone (calcaneus), where they become swollen and cause pain. If this tissue is stretched over and over it can trigger the creation of heel spurs. Heel spurs are bonelike growths on the heel that can cause a lot of pain.

If you are experiencing heel pain, a popular treatment to help alleviate the stress on the bottom of the foot is to make use of orthotic shoe insoles and do exercises for plantar fascitis, to help strengthen the foot arch as well. One of the common foot stretching exercises is to stretch the foot before rising from bed. The Plantar Fascia can tighten during sleep, which causes the strong pain that people feel when they rise. By stretching the foot arch before you put pressure on it, you can alleviate the pain you feel with your first morning steps. Another great exercise for stretching out the plantar fascia is to place a tennis ball or rolling pin beneath your foot and use your arch to roll it. As this becomes less and less arduous you can try standing up and doing the same exercise.

The next important thing to do is immediately put on a sturdy pair of shoes and orthotics. This will help to cushion and support the foot arch and help to keep it from more harm. If you make use of the proper foot stretching exercises and orthotic shoe insoles, you will see a great improvement in your heel pain. It is important that you pay attention to your body and if you are experiencing foot pain, see a doctor as soon as possible. This will ensure that your pain does not become a more serious condition.