Heel pain often gets mistaken for regular discomfort after extensive exercise or a day spent on your feet. It’s a foot problem many people experience, but the staff at Foot & Ankle Specialists in Blue Ash, OH, advise that it’s important to understand the cause. Chronic heel pain may mean you’re dealing with a more serious issue, and when you allow it to go untreated, it can lead to more complications and even mobility issues. If you’re dealing with heel pain, here’s what you need to know.

What to Know About Heel Pain

1. It’s Usually Caused by Stress

It’s rare that heel pain manifests suddenly from an injury. In most cases, it’s the result of repeated stress forced on your heel. When muscles, tendons, and tissue suffer too much compression from walking on tough surfaces frequently or wearing poorly padded shoes, they will eventually become strained. Because you return to your feet so quickly, they rarely have time to recover, which can lead to ongoing pain. See a foot specialist if you deal with this regularly.

2. It Can Hinder Mobility

Most heel pain can be fixed with the R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compress, elevate), but when you begin to experience more extreme symptoms, it may signal a problem that could hinder your mobility. If the pain becomes too severe to put pressure on, contact a foot care professional immediately. Redness, swelling, stiffness in your ankles, or numbness should also be addressed in a medical setting.

3. You Can Prevent It

With some basic at-home care and precautions, you can manage heel pain. Buy comfortable, supportive shoes if you’re on your feet a lot, and change into the right type of shoe for sports and other activities. Also, regularly stretch your foot and Achilles tendon.

If you’re dealing with chronic foot or heel pain, turn to an expert at Foot & Ankle Specialists. They offer comprehensive foot care services and can treat a number of related conditions to get you back on your feet. Call (513) 769-4408 today to schedule an appointment and visit their website and Facebook page to learn more about their practice.