Heel Pain: Dealing with It

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Troubled by the stabbing pain in your heels? Don’t worry; there are ways to deal with it. Heel pain is very common in people above 40 or the ones engaged in extensive sports activities. Also known as plantar fasciitis or jogger’s heel or tennis heal, the pain in the heel is most of the times caused by mechanical factors. Rest, physical therapy, stretching, change in footwear and the use of podiatrist supplies prove to be quite useful in dealing with the pain, say expert at SurgicalSupplies.us. The identification of the exact location of the pain is, however, important for treating it.

What Causes Heel Pain?

Heel pain refers to the pain and discomfort experienced in and around the rear of the foot.  Common causes of this pain are the bio mechanic factors, injuries, neurologic, arthritic issues or infections and other systemic conditions.  The most common cause of chronic heal pan is plantar fasciitis, making up 11-15% of the foot symptoms requiring professional care, according to an article in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. The plantar fascia is a band of deep tissue that runs from the heel bone to the toes and a tear in this tissue leads to Plantar fasciitis.

Estimates show that 1 in 10 people are expected to develop plantar fasciitis during their life time due to varied factors like long hours of standing, activities like long distance running, ballet dancing or aerobics that put a lot of stress on the heel. However, not all of them require long medical treatment and can instead benefit from the use of podiatry supplies and chiropody products for podiatrists.  Check with your nearby medical equipment store for simple products that can help alleviate the pain in your heels.

Obesity and Heel Pain

The body mass index or BMI has also emerged as an important factor contributing to heel pain, reveals a study conducted at Oakwood Healthcare Medical Clinics. It was found that obese people tend to experience heel pain since the extra weight endured by their feet while carrying out varied activities puts greater pressure on the feet and results in plantar fasciitis.

The BMI plays a greater role in heel pain than the foot structure, the study concluded and its authors recommended that a BMI of 25 represents a reasonable goal for weight loss and result in reduction in the heel pain.

Podiatry Products for dealing with Heel Pain

The degree of the pain in your heels depends on the reason for it. Tight calf muscles, flat feet, high arches, obesity, non-supportive footwear and several other factors result in heel pain of varying degrees. Whatever be the reason for the pain, one should not accept it as a part of our life. Instead make use of therapeutic devices and podiatry supplies that can not only help soothe the inflammation but also carefully stretch and manage the tissue. You can easily find specially designed podiatry products and surgical supplies online for getting rid of your pain.

Products like orthotics or assistive devices and corrective insoles or other products can help correct foot faults besides providing the required cushioning and support to the arch during the healing process. Use of night splints can put your foot and ankle in a proper position and thus stretch the plantar fascia thereby alleviating the pain.