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How Orthotics Can Help You Reduce Heel Pain

Posted by Orthotics Direct on 2021 Aug 18th

Heel pain is a bummer for everyone who suffers from it. Fortunately, it’s easy to treat with the right modifications and methods. This post will take a look at why heel pain starts in the first place and how orthotic solutions can help.

What Causes Heel Pain?

There are a variety of causes for heel pain - too many to mention here. Heel pain can be caused by an injury, such as a fracture in foot bones. They can be a secondary result of wider spread conditions, such as arthritis. Chronic and continuous heel pain, however, is very often caused by a disease or condition that is affecting the tendons - connective tissues - in the foot. The two most common causes of heel pain are Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinitis.

Plantar Fasciitis is caused by inflammation of, naturally enough, your plantar fascia. For those not up on their anatomy, this is the band of tendons that connects your heel bone to your toes. Stress on your foot, through injury, excess weight, or bad shoe support, can cause this tendon to become inflamed. This will cause stabbing heel pain, which is often at its worst when you start walking in the morning.

We often hear of athletes being laid low by damage to the Achilles tendon - the tendon that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. However, not all damage to this tendon is made up of dramatic tearing. Wear and inflammation of this tendon can cause chronic heel pain in the form of a condition called Achilles Tendinitis. This condition isn’t relegated just to athletes but can strike any active person.

How Orthotic Solutions Help

While Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinitis are among the most common causes of heel pain, they are subsequently some of the best understood. This means that when it comes to these conditions, there are plenty of treatments for heel pain caused by them. One of the best treatments for heel pain caused by these conditions is actually custom orthotics.

These conditions are often caused by excess wear and tear on the tendons in the feet. Custom-made orthotics can immediately start to alleviate the pain by providing an excess layer of cushioning. Custom orthotics can also help prevent these kinds of heel pain. These conditions are often caused or exacerbated by an uneven distribution of weight, or excess strain. Custom orthotics will make sure that your posture and movement don’t put any undue strain on your feet.

Other Tips for Managing Heel Pain

Custom orthotics may be the best permanent solution when it comes to heel pain treatment, but there are a lot of tactics you can turn to in the short term to help reduce discomfort. First and foremost is rest - putting your feet up as much as possible gives you time to heal, and prevents you from making the pain worse. The application of ice twice a day can do a lot to reduce swelling and pain. You can also consult your doctor about what pain medication or splints are right for reducing your heel pain. While you are looking into getting custom-made orthotics, you should also look into getting the best in comfortable shoes that work with those orthotics.

Get The Best in Custom Orthotics and Shoes

If you’re looking for the best in custom orthotics and comfortable shoes to prevent heel pain, then look no further. There are a variety of great orthotic solutions in our shop, made by the very best shoe and orthotic makers in the industry. Get the orthotic support you need today!