Don’t Ignore Heel Pain While Exercising

If you start a new workout regimen and after a few days you notice that you’re beginning to experience pain in the heel of your foot, it’s not uncommon. Today, Dr. William Buffone of North Fork Podiatry/Three Village Podiatry is sharing important information regarding heel pain and why you shouldn’t ignore it.

Several different disorders can cause heel pain while exercising including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. Both are complicated - but common - foot conditions. Today’s post will focus on the plantar fascia. 

Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Treat Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a strip of connective tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects the base of your toes to your heels. It acts as a shock absorber that supports the arch in your foot.

When you start to exercise, it can cause new stresses on this tissue. Tiny tears can cause irritation, pain, and inflammation. The pain might feel like a deep ache or throbbing, or like a stabbing sensation in the arch or heel of the foot.

Many people experience this pain when they get out of bed first thing in the morning. On the other hand, at night the fascia is contracted in a pointed foot position in an effort to alleviate the stress.

But when you step out of bed, the sudden strain can happen all over again. In some cases, the pain lessens as the foot gets warmed up, but that doesn’t mean that the problem has been resolved.

Wearing Comfortable Shoes Can Help

Another consideration is that it might be time for a comfortable new pair of shoes. Shoes that provide arch support are great for diminishing heel pain. Supportive shoes that are properly fitted will align your feet to their natural position and equally distribute your weight across your feet to reduce the stress on your plantar fascia.

Plantar fasciitis is a rather easy problem to fix if treated early. The longer you wait to see your podiatrist, the worse it becomes and the longer it takes to heal. Don’t wait - at the first sign of heel pain while exercising contact Dr. William Buffone of North Fork Podiatry/Three Village Podiatry to schedule an appointment.

You can reach Three Village Podiatry at (631) 474-3338, North Fork Podiatry (Southold) at (631) 765-6777 or North Fork Podiatry (Riverhead) at (631) 419-7107 today or schedule your appointment online.