Chronic back pain gets a great deal of attention, but chronic heel pain doesn’t always receive the notice it deserves. Formally known as Plantar Fasciitis, heel pain is a major issue for runners and other athletes because it can completely compromise physical ability, but it also causes major discomfort during day to day activity. If you’ve been experiencing heel pain, this is information you definitely want to know.

Understanding Plantar Fasciitis

Chronic heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, stems from the large ligament called the plantar fascia that attaches to heel bone and continues to the ball of the foot. The plantar fascia is responsible or supporting your foot’s natural arch and acting like a rubber band to prevent flat feet. Without a properly functioning plantar fascia, your foot’s arch eventually flattens from the weight of your body as you walk, stand, and run.

Plantar Fasciitis begins to form when the plantar fascia becomes inflamed from small tears and overuse. It’s a slowly forming condition that begins with a dull ache in the mid-arch, almost like a stone in the shoe. As Plantar Fasciitis intensifies, the pain moves into the heel to cause discomfort while walking, standing, and running.

The Impact of Plantar Fasciitis

Most people who are bothered by chronic heel pain are either overweight, regular runners, or likely to stand for long periods of time on unsupportive shoes. Any of the above can cause the small tears within the plantar fascia that leads to chronic pain.

Stretching, modified shoe choices, and activity changes can usually help to relieve Plantar Fasciitis, but physical therapy and medications become necessary in more severe cases. Surgery is a last result that only 2% of patients end up needing.

A supportive shoe and a few stretching exercises can go a long way to help alleviate heel pain and help you return to life as normal without any discomfort.