In the morning especially when you are taking your first few steps, heel pain is very frustrating and aggravating. Inflammation of the heel is normally the main cause of heel pain. The Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia are the two components in the foot that cause heel pain. The Achilles tendon forms a connection between the soleus muscles and the gastrocnemius. The plantar fascia is a ligament across the bottom of your foot which connects the toes to the heel bones and forming the arc on the bottom of your feet in the process.
It is not difficult to find a treatment of heel pain One of the simplest ways to treat heel pain early in the morning is trough stretching. By stretching the plantar fascia and the heel cord, you can decrease and eliminate heel pain.
Other treatments apart from stretching include: icing the painful area, wearing high quality shoes, and massaging the plantar fascia. You should never walk barefoot when you are suffering from heel pain. You should always have a shoe with good heels that can properly support the arch of your foot.
Icing your heel is indeed a good way of relieving the pain. You can ice your heel by rubbing a bottle with frozen water or a cup with ice over the areas that pain at least five minutes twice a day. You can use a golf ball, a tennis ball or a baseball to massage your foot. All you need to do is to roll the ball under your foot. It is also advisable to do this twice a day for five minutes each time.
Remember that you need to be patient when trying to get rid of heel pain. It is a process that takes time. During this process, try to stay away from activities such as running and prolonged walking or running. These activities place extra pressure on the heel. Some people might need to use night splints to help relieve heel pain while others might need to consider surgery if all other treatments fail. When choosing heel pain treatment, consider the treatment that saves you money and can be integrated in your daily activities.