Heel pain is far more common than many people realize. In fact, nearly one in four Americans will experience a serious episode of it at some point in their lives—often severe enough to interfere with daily activities and overall quality of life. If you’re dealing with ongoing discomfort, you may find that even simple activities such as walking, exercising, or enjoying your favorite hobbies have become difficult or frustrating.
While heel pain can stem from many factors—such as weight changes, unsupportive footwear, or repetitive stress—one of the biggest contributors is the modern environment. Our feet simply weren’t designed to withstand hours spent on hard, unforgiving surfaces like concrete and asphalt. Over time, this constant impact can strain the foot's structures and lead to conditions such as plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. The good news is that effective treatment is available at Sunshein Podiatry. Our experienced team of doctors designs custom orthotics to relieve heel pain, reduce stress, and improve foot alignment.
What Causes Heel Pain?
When the muscles and tendons that support the arch weaken, it causes a cascade of problems. The arch drops. The ankle rolls inward. The foot and leg bones fall out of alignment with each other. Tender tissues become strained—or even tear. And the heel is right at the center of it all, forced to absorb ever-greater impact forces with every step you take. Some of the most common conditions related to chronic heel pain include:
- Plantar fasciitis. Risk factors associated with this condition include being overweight, working or exercising on hard surfaces, and wearing ill-fitting shoes.
- Achilles tendinitis. When the Achilles tendon swells after an injury, it causes joint pain and stiffness. Ankle braces and custom orthotics help reduce pain and swelling during recovery.
- Heel fracture or ruptured tendon. These foot and ankle injuries cause sharp heel pain, swelling, and mobility issues. In addition to custom orthotics, our podiatrists may recommend further treatments to help alleviate heel pain and improve mobility.
- Bursitis. Often characterized by a dull ache, this condition occurs when foot joints become painful and swollen. Other symptoms include redness, tenderness, and warmth in the affected area.
How Do Custom Orthotics Relieve Heel Pain?
Orthotics are shoe inserts designed to support the feet and relieve pain associated with various podiatric issues, from arthritis to foot deformities. Now, you've probably seen generic inserts in the drug store, and maybe even tried them. While off-the-shelf options are relatively cheap, they often fail to provide much relief, are likely to wear out quickly, and, most importantly, aren't designed to specifically address the needs of your foot mechanics.
At Sunshein Podiatry, our doctors recommend custom orthotics designed to control foot alignment and provide adequate cushioning. Some of our medical devices are made using soft compression materials and are very comfortable to wear. Others are designed using rigid materials, such as plastic or carbon fiber, which help support your arches. Specially fitted orthotics help reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance posture and balance, reduce the likelihood of falls, and prevent the need for more invasive treatments, such as surgery.
A helpful analogy here is to think of orthotics as a pair of glasses for your feet and arches. If you have a foot that's imbalanced or unstable, custom orthotic insoles can reposition and support it so that it functions as intended. However, glasses won't improve the quality of your biological eyes, but the right pair of prescribed orthotics helps the muscles in the bottom of your foot heal and become stronger, allowing them to better resist gravity and reduce pain. In fact, many of our patients wear orthotics as a preventative, long-term measure to tackle heel pain.
What Kind of Orthotics Will Help Me?
Deciding on the right type of orthotics to relieve your heel pain starts with a comprehensive examination in our Centerville office. Our experienced podiatrists carefully evaluate your condition, learn about your "why" to better understand you—after all, a treatment plan that works for a marathon runner won't work for a busy teacher who stands all day. Then, we consider what type of medical orthotics best serve your needs. Here are some options:
- Prefabricated arch supports. For our patients with mild-to-moderate heel pain, we carry Powersteps arch supports, available at The Foot Stop Store in our office, and they tend to work well for most people. They’re a lot higher quality than off-the-shelf inserts you find at the pharmacy or athletic store, and you’ll have a professional foot and ankle specialist helping ensure you get the proper pair.
- Custom orthotics. If your heel pain and/or foot alignment problems are more severe, you may need a pair of custom-molded orthotics. Each pair is uniquely fashioned in a lab, using a mold and/or scan of your feet. This allows our podiatrists to correct foot alignment with a much higher degree of precision, especially for foot structures that deviate a lot further from “normal.”
Custom orthotics also have the advantage of being significantly more rigid and durable than prefabricated ones. Since they’re designed to fit perfectly, they can be made from firmer plastics while providing enough “flex” to be comfortable and allow your foot to function normally. And they last for many years with proper care, unlike prefabs—which tend to give out after about six months or so.
Ultimately, we want to give you the opportunity to not only learn about what's causing your heel pain, but also learn the various ways Sunshein Podiatry can help you resolve it and return to your active lifestyle.