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How is heel pain diagnosed?

Heel pain can be diagnosed by your doctor after taking a detailed medical history and performing a thorough physical examination of the foot and leg. Imaging scans, such as X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to identify causes of heel pain, such as heel spurs or stress fractures.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of heel pain?

Heel pain is associated with pain that may be felt underneath or at the back of the heel. The pain may be accompanied by the sensation of tingling, burning or numbness and may worsen with increased activity. Resting may help ease the symptoms.

What causes heel pain?

Heel pain is commonly the result of an abnormal gait, which can lead to excessive stress on the heel bone and soft tissues attached to it. Other factors that can cause heel pain are plantar fasciitis (the other common cause of heel pain), being overweight or obese, …

Who can develop heel pain?

While anyone can develop heel pain, it tends to be more common in overweight adults, those over 40 years of age, pregnant woman and those who have occupations that require long periods of standing or walking.

How is heel pain treated?

The treatment for heel pain varies, depending on the cause and severity, but may include icepacks, compression, physical therapy, modification of activities, rest, anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injections and - if all conservative treatments fail - …

Will heel pain clear on its own?

For some people, their heel pain will clear without any treatment or recurrence, but many people will need a treatment program to resolve their symptoms.

Can heel pain be prevented?

You can reduce your risk of experiencing heel pain by wearing properly-fitting shoes, wearing inserts to correct foot abnormalities, managing other underlying conditions that may exacerbate the symptoms and warming up and cooling down before and after strenuous …

Is heel pain serious?

Heel pain is rarely a symptom of a serious condition. Although heel pain may interfere with physical activities, by using appropriate treatments, its severity can be reduced or the cause may be completely treated.

How common is heel pain?

Heel pain is more common in older adults and has been estimated to affect up to one in every 10 people.

What can make heel pain worse?

Heel pain can become worse as a result of strenuous activity and poorly-fitting shoes.

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About this article

Author: Dr Bow Tauro PhD, BSc (Hons)
First answered: 15 Jul 2015
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Votes: 1239 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Achilles tendonitis

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