Your heels are one of the most heavily used sections of your feet. Each heel contains numerous muscle tissues and nerve endings that respond to straining (or other forms of damage). During daily walking, you may pull, tear or stress specific ligaments that connect your muscle tissue. For example, stepping on uneven surfaces, spraining your ankle or wearing the wrong types of shoes may all result in heel pain. When specific tissues in this area become inflamed, they cause irritation and difficulty walking. These symptoms make it harder for you to maintain an active lifestyle.    

What causes heel pain?

Heel pain is often caused by the tearing of a ligament called the plantar fascia. This ligament extends from your toes to the back of your foot, and it can cause swelling, soreness and inflammation under certain conditions. For example, overusing your heel can exert undue tension on the plantar fascia.

If your walking style is odd or you wear the wrong shoes to work, you may experience discomfort in the heel area. Furthermore, the previous injury to the heel may also result in lingering pain. Those who play sports may have exerted too much pressure on their ligaments without knowing. During the commute to work, resultant inflammation may occur, and you may end up feeling pain.  

How to avoid heel pain during daily activities

Walking is an excellent way of remaining healthy during daily life. However, heel pain may cause you to resent the commute to work. The good news is that you can resolve and avoid heel pain in many different ways. Here are some useful tips to consider:

Control how much you walk daily

Heel pain may arise if you walk for too long on a daily basis. If your walking commute is over 45 minutes long, consider taking regular breaks from long walks. Ease your commute by riding a bike or taking the bus on some days of the weak.

Practice hot and cold therapy

Heel pain is often caused by inflammation. Consider applying an ice pack to your heel area and slowly rolling it up and down your foot. You should also gently massage your heels using warm water whenever the area feels sore.

Visit a podiatrist

Finally, don't forget to get professional attention on a regular basis. A podiatrist can examine the heel to identify any torn ligaments, soreness and inflammation. They can also recommend the best shoes to wear (such as shoes with strong arch support) for your daily commute so that you don't exert pressure on affected ligaments. Speak to a professional to get help with your foot pain today.

Share