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.
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.
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. Looking for clinically backed support? Explore our APMA-accepted shoes that promote alignment, reduce strain, and offer everyday comfort.
“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
Steps for heel pain relief
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.
1.
treatment for heel pain
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.
2.
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.
3.
PRESERVE YOUR ARCH WITH EXERCISES
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).
4.
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 orthopaedic shoes
or insoles (orthotics). These shoes
help mitigate the symptoms of
heel pain.
5.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
are helpful in reducing pain and
inflammation. Prior to taking any
medication, consult your physician.
6.
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
By wearing orthotic shoe insoles or supportive shoes, you can align your feet and reduce over-pronation.
Extra arch support and realignment of the lower leg to its natural angle reduces the pulling and strain on
the plantar fascia. This can take away a common cause of heel pain and reduce the aggravation of heel spurs.
Vionic Motion technology is shown to help reduce over-pronation and associated conditions due to misalignment.
If you are looking for shoes for plantar fasciitis, find a pair of shoes from Vionic that provide heel support, comfort
and style. You can enjoy instant relief through this breakthrough technology built into a selection of stylish casual
and dress shoes, walking-specific shoes and sandals, supportive slippers and more.