Heel pain can stop you from working, taking care of your family, and participating in your favorite hobbies. Once heel pain starts, it can be hard to overcome, especially for those with active lifestyles in Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent heel pain.
In many cases, heel pain develops as the result of plantar fasciitis, which affects the band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel to the base of your toes. This tissue, known as the plantar fascia, supports and protects the arch of your foot. The plantar fascia also works like a shock absorber when you walk.
Tension and stress of the plantar fascia can cause small tears in the tissue, resulting in heel pain when you step down on your foot. Sending about 2 million Americans to the doctors’ office every year, plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of pain in the heel, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Los Alamitos and Seal Beach Podiatrists Discuss Ways to Prevent Heel Pain
Determine your risk for developing heel pain
Some people are at a higher risk than are others for developing heel pain. Those who are on their feet all day are more likely to develop heel pain than are those who sit down frequently, for example, as are athletes who run long distances or do a lot of jumping. Stress fractures, which are bones broken resulting from too much weight or pressure, can cause heel pain. Being overweight may also increase your risk for heel pain.
Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight can exert too much pressure on your feet in general, but particularly on your heels. The more weight you carry, the more pressure you put on your heels. Maintain a healthy weight to avoid heel pain.
Choose your shoes wisely
Poorly-fitting shoes can cause heel pain. Flip-flops and some flat shoes do not support the arch of your foot adequately, for example, and the worn-down soles of old shoes can actually make heel pain worse. New shoes can be just as hard on your feet and heels, especially if they have very tight or stiff heel that rubs against the back of your Achilles tendon towards the bottom of your calf.
Avoid standing for long periods
If you are a nurse, teacher, or work in another profession that requires you stand for a long time, you may be more likely to experience heel pain. While it is not always possible to sit down on the job, try to take frequent breaks or change position when you can.
Stretch your calf muscles
Tight calf muscles prevent your ankle from bending far enough, and this causes strain that goes all the way from your calf muscles into your heel bone and then into plantar fascia.
Consult with your podiatrist
If you develop heel pain despite taking precautions to avoid it, make an appointment with your podiatrist. Your foot doctor can help you determine your risk for developing heel pain, review your lifestyle and efforts to prevent heel pain, and give you personalized pointers on how to reduce that risk.
For more information on how to prevent heel pain, make an appointment with Alamitos – Seal Beach Podiatry Group. Our foot doctors in Los Alamitos and Seal Beach provide the most up-to-date and highest quality treatment for heel pain and other foot problems.
