What Treats Heel Pain?

Physical Therapy

When at-home strategies like rest and compression don't work, it's time for individuals dealing with heel pain to talk to a doctor. Injuries that don't heal on their own should be evaluated by a professional. In many cases, doctors will recommend physical therapy. This can help with injuries to the tendons and muscles. Physical therapy lets individuals strengthen their feet, which both speeds healing and prevents a recurrence of the injury in the future. The exercises individuals will do in physical therapy will vary depending on the severity and cause of the pain. When patients meet with their physical therapist, they'll get their medical history, go over the diagnosis, and come up with a treatment plan. Most patients do a certain number of physical therapy sessions per week, along with strengthening exercises performed at home. The best plan is one that strengthens the foot without worsening the injury through overuse.

Night Splints

Night splints are a type of support device individuals wear during their sleep. Rather than helping support them as they walk or cushion their foot, their purpose is to help stretch the foot. The majority of individuals have downward-pointing feet while they sleep. This isn't a problem if they don't have plantar fasciitis, but it can exacerbate the condition when it already exists. The angle of the foot shortens the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, which means affected individuals will have a much harder time walking with these connective tissues in the morning. This is part of why plantar fasciitis pain is often worst immediately upon getting out of bed in the morning. A night splint holds the foot at a ninety-degree angle, like when individuals wear flat shoes. This keeps the plantar fascia stretched constantly as individuals sleep. It reduces morning pain and can, over time, reverse the condition entirely.