Heel pain is a common condition where you feel discomfort or pain when putting your weight on your heel.

There are two different types of heel pain. The first is caused by over-use repetitive stress injury where you have soreness from too much impact on your heel or a specific area of your heel. This can be caused by shoes with heels that are too low for your feet, a sudden increase in activity or your heel's fat pad may be thinned out due to other causes.

Plantar fasciitis, a very common diagnosis of heel pain, which is a biomechancial problem caused by flat feet or over pronation. The plantar fascia is a wide band of tissue that runs along the bottom surface of your foot, from the heel through the midfoot and into the forefoot. Over-pronation can cause the plantar fascia in your foot to become excessively stretched and inflamed, resulting in pain in the heel and arch areas of the foot. Often the pain you experience will be worst first thing in the morning or after a prolonged period of rest. The pain will gradually ease as you get on with your day.

To properly treat heel pain, you must absorb shock, provide cushioning and elevate your heel to transfer the pressure that causes the pain. Dr. Fostick can prescrie orthotics, heel cups and heel cradles that will absorb the pressure.

If the issue is related to plantar fasciitis, Dr. Fosdick can prescribe an orthotic with a medial posting and good arch support that will control the pronation and prevent the inflammation of the plantar fascia.