Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, which is also known as heel spur syndrome. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament that extends from the heel to the toes. The fascia becomes inflamed, which results in heel pain.

Heel pain most commonly presents with pain on the bottom of the heel which progressively increases over the course of weeks and months. A hallmark of this condition is extreme pain when first arising from bed in the morning or standing after an extended period of sitting.

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis is due to faulty mechanics of the foot. People with overly flat feet or high-arched feet are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. Shoes also can contribute to plantar fasciitis, especially shoes that are not supportive.

Plantar fasciitis generally responds well to conservative, non-surgical treatment. These include stretching exercises, medications, padding and strapping, orthotic devices, injection therapy, night splints, and physical therapy. If conservative treatment fails, a new treatment known as shockwave therapy can be used. This procedure aids in eliminating the inflammation of plantar fasciitis without an invasive surgery. For a very small percentage of people who do not respond to these treatments, surgery would be a solution.