Home Remedies for Heel Pain
Sometimes what we do in our daily lives that we think is healthy can instead have painful repercussions. Improper walking or exercise can result in heel pain that can be debilitating. It prevents us from going about our daily activities and prevents us from participating in sports and other recreational activities. There are home remedies to soothe your heels and help them heal.
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Causes
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Most often heel pain is a result of poor posture, failure to wear proper shoes, obesity or having an abnormal gait while walking. It can also be due to an injury while participating in sports or just occur from walking.
The heel bone is one of 26 bones in the foot and it is the largest. Pain can occur in the front, back or middle of the heel.
Common Maladies
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A heel spur is a bony growth on the bottom of the heel bone. Spurs are a result of strain placed on the ligaments or muscles of the foot.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association website http://apma.org, plantar fasciitis is a common inflammation of the connective tissue running from the heel base to the ball of the foot. Plantar fasciitis pain is worse in the morning when you rise from bed. The pain lessens throughout the day, but returns after sitting for a long period.
Excessive pronation can lead to heel pain. Pronation is the natural ability of your foot to adapt to walking, running and different surfaces. As mentioned, improper gaits and too much walking can bring on heel pain.
Health conditions such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis exacerbates pain in the heel area.
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Prevention
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Wearing well-constructed sturdy shoes that are in good condition is helpful to those suffering from pain in the heel area. Make sure that you wear shoes that are appropriate for your activities, such as hiking, running or walking. Women should avoid wearing high heels, except on special occasions.
Lose weight, since obesity can heighten stress on the feet.
Get plenty of rest and good nutrition, prop your feet up when relaxing at home and keep active with exercises approved by your physician or thearapist.
Exercise
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Stretching before exercising is the best way to prevent pain from overuse or injuries. Doing gentle calf stretches for 20 to 30 seconds on each leg is a good way to get ready for even a simple activity such as walking. Flexing your foot and Achilles tendon will warm up your muscles and prevent injury.
Home Remedies
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The website http://home-remedies-for-you.com offers many helpful home remedies to cure or help alleviate heel pain.
Rolling a frozen juice can or a cold canned beverage under the arch and heel of your foot can be soothing. Using ice cubes to massage your heel can help ease pain, and bring down inflammation and swelling.
Never cross your feet or legs when relaxing at home and try to elevate your feet a few times a day.
You can alternate soaking in warm or cool water to ease painful heels. And work on your posture, as this is a leading cause of heel pain.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit quinn.anya: flickr.com
