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Heel Pain

Why do my heels hurt?

The most common cause of heel pain comes from moving your foot incorrectly while walking or running.  This can place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissue around it.  The result is pain.

What causes incorrect foot movement?

The way you move your feet can be affected by:

• Inherited muscle and bone problems
• Heel injury or bruising
• Poorly fitted or worn-out shoes
• Excessive weight

Why do my feet hurt when I get out of bed or stand up?

You may have plantar fasciitis, a common cause of pain.  This is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot and supports the arch of the foot.  Excessive walking, running or jumping flattens and lengthens the plantar fascia.  Eventually, the stress can cause small tears in the plantar fascia.

Reducing symptoms is your podiatrist’s first goal.  Then he or she works to correct the cause of your problem.  If your pain is due to poor foot mechanics, custom-made shoe inserts (orthoses) may help.

Related Problems

A heel spur is extra bone that may grow near the spot where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel.  The heel spur may form in response to the plantar fascia’s tug on the heel bone.