Date updated: June 01, 2009
Content provided by National Institute of Health

Also called: Pain heel, Plantar Fasciitis, Policeman's Heel

The most frequent causes of Heel Pain are not single injuries, such as a fall or twist, but repetitive or excessive heel pounding. Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of the thick connective tissue on the sole of your foot that attaches to your heel. The pain is usually felt at the bottom of your heel and is often worse in the morning because of stiffness that occurs overnight. The following increase your risk of developing this painful problem: "Shoes with poor arch support or stiff soles, quick turns that put stress on your foot, tight calf muscles, repetitive pounding on your feet from long-distance running and especially running downhill or on uneven surfaces". Pronation that is landing on the outside of your foot and roll inward when walking or running; to know if you pronate, check the soles of your shoes to see if they are worn along the outer edge, bone spurs in the heel can accompany plantar fasciitis, but are generally not the source of the pain. If you treat the Plantar Fasciitis appropriately, the bone spur is likely to no longer bother you. Heel bursitis (inflammation of the back of the heel) can be caused by landing hard or awkwardly on the heel or by pressure from shoes.