What does your heel pain mean?
Heel pain is often a symptom caused by one of two conditions: plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis. Most commonly, heel pain experienced at the bottom of the heel is caused by plantar fasciitis. Heel pain may become so severe for some that just putting weight on their feet first thing in the morning is excruciating. Walking or running may feel completely out of the question.
how heel pain develops
If your foot pronates too much, the ankle rolls too far downward and inward with each step. This can cause the arch to collapse and muscles and supporting structures to over-stretch and lengthen. The ligaments running from the heel to the toes become strained, often leading to inflammation along the bottom of the foot. This inflammation and heel pain is known as plantar fasciitis. In response, the bone may also develop a bony growth (heel spur), right in the center of the heel. This too causes heel pain and can prevent an individual from walking with ease.
causes of foot heel pain
Injury, disease and excess weight are
among the possible culprits, but
it’s probable that your heel pain
has developed from poor biomechanics.
Over-pronation can become even more
excessive when you wear unsupportive
shoes and walk on hard, unnatural surfaces.
This can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis
and severe heel pain. Wearing supportive shoes
with good arch support, cushioning, and heel support
can alleviate foot pain, especially for flat feet
or high arches. Choosing the best shoes for
your feet prevents foot problems and ensures comfort.
vionic shoes support natural alignment
A trial period of 12 weeks (targeting 150
heel-pain sufferers age 50+) showed
that patients wearing Vionic contoured
sandals were 68% more likely to report
improvement in symptoms compared to
those wearing flat flip flops. Results also
showed that the contoured sandal
provided similar relief to best-selling
Vionic orthotic insoles in alleviating
heel pain.
★★★★★"I have been suffering from plantar fasciitis for over 6 months. I bought different medical insoles and boots but was always in pain, until a friend recommended Vionic shoes. and WOW, I Will never wear anything else from now on.”
– Lulu
treatment for heel pain
There are several ways in which you can treat foot and heel pain at home or without resorting to surgery. Discuss these with your physician first to determine the best course of action for you.
Stretch regularly
Keeping your calf muscles limber helps to reduce the strain on the plantar fascia. To stretch your calves and Achilles tendon, stand on the edge of a step, resting your weight on the balls of your feet. Bend your knees for 25 seconds and then straighten. Perform up to five repetitions whenever tightening occurs.
Ice and rest
After mild stretching, use a frozen water bottle to roll under the arch of your foot for 10-20 minutes or apply a cold pack to the bottom of your heel. It may be possible to make an active recovery by wearing Orthaheel Technology to keep your feet naturally aligned, therefore reducing strain on the plantar fascia, while moving throughout your day.
Preserve your arch with exercise
While seated and barefoot, squeeze your foot as if you have a small marble under the ball of your foot. If you just happen to have a few marbles handy, you can actually practice picking them up between your toes and ball of your foot — and then set them down again. This stretches and helps strengthen the muscles that run under metatarsals (the longest bones in the foot which create its arched shape).
Break the cycle with supportive footwear
Whether you are shopping for women’s shoes or men’s shoes, it may also be possible to make a more active recovery with the assistance of a supportive shoe or insoles (orthotics). These shoes help mitigate the symptoms of heel pain and provide good arch support.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are helpful in reducing pain and inflammation. Prior to taking any medication, consult your physician.
other treatment
For more serious cases of heel pain, your podiatrist may recommend physical therapy, injection therapy, night splints and orthotic devices. In the most extreme cases, surgery may be an option.
★★★★★"healthcare professionals can have confidence in supporting a patient’s decision to wear contoured sandals or orthotic insoles as one of the first and simple strategies to manage their heel pain.”
– Tom McPoil, Professor of Physical Therapy at Denver’s Regis University
how vio-motion support can help reduce heel pain (plantar fasciitis)
By wearing orthotic shoe inserts or heel support shoes, you can effectively align your feet and reduce over-pronation, especially if you have flat feet or high arches. The additional arch support and realignment of the lower leg to its natural angle can significantly reduce the pulling and strain on the plantar fascia, which is a common cause of foot pain and discomfort, including severe heel pain and aggravated sore heel.
Vionic technology has been proven to be effective in reducing over-pronation and addressing associated conditions caused by misalignment. If you are dealing with foot problems like arch pain or plantar fasciitis, consider choosing a pair of supportive shoes. Our breakthrough technology is incorporated into various shoes, including women’s running shoes, men’s casual shoes, supportive slippers, and sandals, which can provide instant relief and promote foot health.
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