Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : March 31, 2014 6:15 PM IST
The heel is the largest and the most important bone among the 26 bones present in your foot. It supports your entire body weight while you walk and at the same time acts like an insulator to absorb the impact of hitting the ground while performing rigorous activities like running. An interesting fact - when you walk the stress impact on your foot is 1 times your body weight which increases to 2 when your run.
Heel pain is a common problem that people face, especially women. Mild heel pain can be short-term and may disappear on its own. However, it can persist for a long time and turn into a chronic condition which needs immediate attention. Here are some causes that could be the actual reason behind your hurting heel.
1. Injury: Injury to the heel due to stress fractures (in the heel bone) is a common reason for heel pain in adults. However, a single episode of traumatic injury to the heel may not be sufficient for persistent pain in the heels. Most of the times, repetitive stress injuries exert strain on the surrounding muscles, bones and ligaments which trigger heel pain. Landing on harder surfaces may also result in heel bone fracture.
2. Plantar fasciitis: Plantar fascia is the stretch of connective tissue that extends from your heel bone to the ball of the foot. Inflammation of this connective tissue is called plantar fasciitis. It is common in people who wear flat shoes. When you walk in flat shoes for over a long period of time, the plantar fascia gets stretched resulting in inflammation. The same holds true for women wearing high heels. High heels overstretches the tissue and increases pressure on the heel. Besides, it also causes back pain.
3. Bony spurs: A bony heel spur is actually an abnormal bone growth at the point where the plantar fascia is attached to the heel bone. It is caused by prolonged strain due to abnormal gait, bending the feet inwards can stretch plantar fascia and cause chronic inflammation. Sometimes muscle strain and increasing tension on the heel can result in a bony growth or spur. The bony spur keeps growing in the direction where the stretch causing pain.
4. Achilles tendinopathy: Achilles tendon is the largest tendon of the body which connects the calf muscles and the heel bone. People who are involved in sports that require running and jumping are prone to inflammation of the tendon due to its overuse.
5. Bursitis: Bursae are the protective cushion present between the joints and between the tendon and the bones. Inflammation of bursa at the back of the heel can cause immediate swelling and pain in the heel.
6. Arthritis: Sometimes diseases like rheumatoid arthritis can also contribute to inflammation and heel pain.
You may also like to read:
For more articles on foot care, visit our feet section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.
