Common Causes for Heel Pain

Foot and heel pain can stem from a variety of conditions. Sometimes, heel pain can be a matter of age or a minor injury. However, persisting heel pain can be an indicator of a larger issue. Pain in the heel can appear underneath or behind the heel and is a common experience. Some potential causes for heel pain include:

1. Achilles tendinitis: The Achilles tendon is the longest tendon in the body, and when it is overused, the tendon becomes inflamed. Athletes are prone to this type of injury and heel pain.
2. Bursitis: With this condition, fluid-filled sacs begin to swell and may lead to marks to appear on the heel that appear similar to bruising. This most commonly happens if you spend a lot of time on your feet.
3. Sever's Disease: Sever's disease is most common in children, between the ages of 8 and 14, and often occurs due to high athletic activity, including sports and other activities that involve extensive running and jumping.
4. Heel Spurs: Heel spurs are a result of chronic plantar fasciitis. However, heel spurs are not often painful, but do lead to the formation of bony growth on the bottom of the heel.
5. Stress fractures: Tiny cracks can appear on your bones when the body sustains repetitive force, such as jumping up and down frequently.
6. Arthritis: Those with arthritis are more prone to experiencing heel pain. Various types of arthritis can lead to heel pain, including psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

These are some potential causes for heel pain. However, to find the cause of your heel pain, you should consider contacting a specialist. A podiatrist had the specialized knowledge to know what to look for when diagnosing conditions related to heel pain and how to find the best heel pain treatment for you.