Heel Pain

Common Causes of Heel Pain

• Plantar Fasciitis –When listing causes of heel pain, we start with plantar fasciitis for the simple reason it is, by far, the most common cause of heel pain for adults. The problem arises in a connective tissue known as the plantar fascia, which runs along the underside of your foot, helps support the arch, and connects the heel to the forefoot area.

This particular fascia is generally quite strong, but excessive strain can lead to tiny tears and inflammation. The body works to repair those tears during times of rest and the initial steps afterward can reopen them, which explains why the pain is most severe in the morning (after the body has spent all night mending the tears).

• Achilles Tendinitis – After plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis is the second-most common source of heel pain for adults. Much like with the previous condition, this one is caused by inflamed connective tissue. In this case, it is the Achilles tendon. Your Achilles is actually the largest and strongest out of the thousands of tendons in your body, but it is not infallible.
• Sever’s Disease –When a child or adolescent is experiencing heel pain, the likely culprit is a condition known as Sever’s disease (or calcaneal apophysis). Now, the name is a bit misleading, since this is not actually a disease.

Sever’s is a literal “growing pain” that occurs when a growth plate found in the back of the heel bone reaches physical maturity before the Achilles tendon. This creates a situation wherein the Achilles tendon—which isn’t as long at this point as it will eventually become—tugs on the insertion point in the back of the heel and causes pain for your son or daughter. The pain is typically strongest following physical activity.

• Retrocalcaneal (back of the heel) Bursitis –Whereas you know what a bone and muscle are, a less-known anatomical feature is a bursa. Bursae (pluralized) are fluid-filled sacs that provide extra cushioning for the muscles, bones, and tendons near joints. When these tissues become inflamed, it can cause pain in the back of the heel.
• Heel Spurs –As with bursae, not too many people are familiar with bone spurs. These spurs are calcium deposits the body builds up on normal bone tissue over time. They are often found in areas facing excessive pressure or force on a frequent basis, such as the bottom of the heel. Heel spurs sometimes develop when plantar fasciitis has been a longstanding issue for a patient.