Heel Pain

Overview

As the largest of the foot’s 26 bones, the heel is often susceptible to pain and injury due to its position and vital functions. Common heel pain itself is rarely a severe medical condition, but it can be a sign of something a little more serious. For example, discomfort on the underside usually stems from plantar fasciitis, while pain on the back of the heel is frequently associated with Achilles tendinitis.

Most Common Causes

As mentioned above, the following two conditions are the most common causes of intense heel pain:

Plantar Fasciitis – An inflammation of the plantar fascia connective tissue, which runs from the heel to the front of the foot. Specifically, plantar fasciitis develops when the plantar fascia tendon becomes strained over time. This can be due to a number of different reasons, but the most common is athletic activity. On the other hand, improperly fitting shoes with insufficient arch support will also aggravate the plantar fasciitis and cause increased heel pain.

Achilles Tendinitis – An inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which runs down the backside of the ankle and into the heel. Achilles tendinitis occurs near the heel bone when this sensitive tendon is strained, usually over a long period of time. This condition is most frequently seen in older individuals who still walk and run for exercise.

Other Causes

Heel Spurs – A hard, unnatural growth on the bottom of the heel bone that is often associated with plantar fasciitis.

Heel Bursitis – This is an inflammation or swelling of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac at the back of the heel – under the Achilles tendon. It is most often caused by wearing shoes that put too much pressure on this part of the foot or wearing heels that do not properly fit.

Arthritis – More specifically, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Stress Fracture – A fracture, or break in the heel bone, caused by repetitive stress. This particular cause is most commonly seen amongst competitive athletes and runners.

SKU	Product	Our Price
ORTHOS-FULL-G	ORTHOS Footwear Orthotic Insoles - Full Length - Made in USA	$39.95
ORTHOS-SHEAR-B	ORTHOS Shearling Orthotic Insoles - Inserts w/ Arch Support for Slippers, Sheepskin Lined Boots	$39.95
ORTHOS-34-A	ORTHOS Footwear Orthotic Insoles 3/4 Length for Tight-Fitting Shoes - USA Made	$29.95 (Save 25%)
PEDAG-181-36	Pedag VIVA Sport Full Length Orthotic Insole	$34.99 (Save 13%)
RT0600-A	Redi-Thotics Ultra - Firm Arch Supports	$59.00
RT0100-A	Redi-Thotics Flex - Flexible Arch Supports	$59.00
OH-21ESF-XS4	Vionic Slimfit Women's Dress Insoles - Orthaheel	$34.95
ORTHOS-SPORTF-V	ORTHOS Custom Made Orthotic Shoe Insoles for Active Footwear	$199.95 (Save 33%)
50085	Exoform Dorsal Night Splint - Ossur, Royce Medical	$49.99 (Save 66%)
RT0300-A	Redi-Thotics Control - Semi-Firm Arch Supports	$59.00
PS-SLEEVE-S	Powerstep Foot / Arch Compression Sleeve Sock for Plantar Fasciitis	$26.06 (Save 13%)
SKU97701	Re-Order Amfit Orthotics	$144.95 (Save 37%)
AC-MORE-RUN	Re-Order Archcrafters Custom Insoles	$120.00 (Save 37%)
BS-LPD-W-05	Betterstep Low Profile Deluxe - Dress Shoe Orthotic	$44.95 (Save 25%)
APEX-62000	Apex A-Wave Orthotics for Low, Medium, or High Arches	$44.95
arch_comform1	Archcrafters Custom Comfort Active Insoles	$139.95 (Save 26%)
ORTHOS-RE-SWF-V	Re-Order ORTHOS Custom Orthotics - Personalized Foot Support for All Shoe Styles	$169.95 (Save 39%)
PS-ULTRA-REG	Powerstep UltraStretch? Night Sock - Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendonitis	$41.36 (Save 17%)
arch_work1	Archcrafters Heavy-Duty - Work Custom Insoles	$144.95 (Save 24%)
arch_walking1	Archcrafters Walking Custom Comfort Insoles	$144.95 (Save 24%)
arch_dress1	Archcrafters Custom Comfort Dress Insoles	$139.95 (Save 26%)
RT0400-C	Redi-Thotics Slim - Semi-flexible Arch Supports	$49.00
bs-lift2	Adjustable Heel Lift	$29.00
PEDAG-179-35	Pedag VIVA Mini 3/4 Length Leather Orthotic Insole	$29.99