Heel pain in adults will be due to several disorders, but by far the most common one is a disorder called plantar fasciitis. The pain from plantar fasciitis generally occurs under the heel and the classic sign is that the discomfort is a whole lot worse when getting out of bed first thing each morning for those first couple of steps. After those initial steps the pain does ease to some extent, but it worsens again as the day goes on. The plantar fascia is a long ligament beneath the bottom of the foot that is responsible for assisting the arch of the foot, so plantar fasciitis is because there is a lot of stress on the arch of the foot. The main risk factors for plantar fasciitis are tight calf muscles, being obese and having increased levels of activity. Lower limb biomechanical problems that adds to the load in the plantar fascia can also be an issue in raising the load.
The initial approach to plantar fasciitis is pain alleviation by using ice after exercise and perhaps the use of anti-inflammatory and also pain relief drugs. Strapping may also be used in the short term to help you with the pain. Foot orthotics enables you to reduce the stress on the arch of the foot and correct any structural issues that might be a factor in leading to the problem. You will need to stretch the calf muscles as it really is a significant risk. Splints to wear at night could also be used to assist with that stretching if necessary. Strengthening the muscles which also support the arch is usually of great benefit because they take some load of the plantar fascia. In the long run, losing weight is important as this truly does create a lot of load in the feet. In the event that these techniques aren't working to well, then it is time for you to consider things like shockwave therapy or corticosteroid shots. A last resort would be surgical procedures.