Heel pain is one of the most common complaints that brings people in to our podiatry practice in Powder Springs. Often, that pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of your plantar fascia. (That's the band of connective tissue that runs from your heel to your toes, along the bottom of your feet.) It could also be the result of Achilles tendinitis, or inflammation in your Achilles tendon. (It connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.) 

Now, that inflammation could be the result of overuse. That's why many people develop heel pain when they suddenly increase the duration or frequency of their workouts. At other times, plantar fasciitis can develop or worsen because you're wearing unsupportive shoes. And sometimes, the very shape of your foot could be to blame for your heel pain. Luckily, for most patients, using custom orthotics for heel pain will provide effective and lasting relief! 

Understanding Heel Pain

When you develop inflammation in your plantar fascia or Achilles tendon, heel pain is likely to follow. Initially, that pain may be mild or intermittent. But over time, without treatment, that pain could become chronic. As we mentioned earlier, a new case of heel pain could develop due to overtraining or improper footwear. It could also be the result of pregnancy or weight gain. But, more often, the shape of your feet or your biomechanics contribute to the stress on your body. And that's why getting into custom orthotics is often an extremely effective (and non-invasive) way to treat heel pain. 

Custom Orthotics for Heel Pain: How They Provide Relief

Custom orthotics are very different from the shoe insoles you can buy at the drugstore. These insoles are medical devices that are custom crafted to support your feet in the exact spots where they need it most. As such, when you wear them regularly, they can optimize your foot function, restoring balance and evenly distributing pressure across your foot and ankle. In this way, they can take pressure off hot spots like your plantar fascia, reducing inflammation and relieving your heel pain.

But that's not the only way in which custom orthotics can relieve heel pain. You see, these insoles can also position your foot in its optimal position, providing maximal support to your arches, tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments. When functioning this way in its optimal position, the foot no longer experiences the biomechanical challenges that can lead to heel pain. So, when you wear your orthotics, you can stand, walk and run in comfort, without worrying about pain in your heels...or anywhere else. 

In short, these custom-made insoles prevent or relieve pain in your heels by: 

Some of the key ways custom orthotics may help resolve your heel pain include: 

  • Properly aligning all the structures in your foot
  • Removing stress from your tendons and ligaments
  • Supporting your arches 

Of course, custom orthotics may not be able to resolve every cause of heel pain. If your discomfort is made worse by concerns such as heel spurs,  you may need additional interventions in order to find relief. Or, if your problems are the result of an injury, you may benefit from additional treatment, such as laser therapy for pain, in order to speed up your recovery process. Still, in most cases, using custom orthotics for heel pain relief can help you move more comfortably without the need for invasive or time-consuming treatments. 

Ready to say goodbye to the heel pain you're currently experiencing? Do you want to feel better now, and find a solution that will keep your problems from coming back in the future? We're here to help! Simply reach out to our office to request an appointment, and we can discuss getting you fitted for orthotics. And remember: untreated heel pain won't go away on its own. In fact, it's likely to get worse without intervention. So don't waste more time, walking around in pain. Instead, we invite you to contact our team today to begin your path to recovery!