Heel pain is a common problem for athletes, and it can be caused by overuse and stress from many sports, including running, jogging, basketball, and tennis. Your podiatrist can help. Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry provide a wide range of foot and ankle services, including treating and managing heel pain. He has two convenient office locations in Fort Walton Beach and Crestview, FL.

What an Athlete Needs To Know About Heel Pain

Heel pain can result from stress and overuse of the Achilles tendon or damage and injury to the heel.

Heel pain can happen to people beginning a new sport or seasoned, experienced athletes. To help prevent heel pain, it’s important to warm up thoroughly before participating in a sport. To prevent heel pain, a warm-up routine should include:

• Heel stretches to stretch the Achilles tendon
• Calf raises to lengthen and strengthen calf muscles to better support the heel
• Ankle stretches and circles to increase flexibility and prevent injury

In addition, you need to choose a surface that is:

• Dry, to prevent slipping
• Even, to prevent injuries

Other ways to prevent heel pain are to:

• Increase the intensity of your training gradually
• Choose the appropriate, supportive shoes for your sport
• Wear heel wedges or orthotics in your shoes to provide support

For mild heel pain, you may be able to get relief if you try:

• Icing your heel for several minutes
• Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication
• Resting and elevating your heels

For moderate to severe heel pain, you should seek out the help of your podiatrist, who may recommend:

• Prescription medications to decrease inflammation and pain
• Cortisone injections into the heel
• Custom orthotics to support the heel
• Physical therapy, shockwave therapy, and ultrasound treatment

Want To Know More About Heel Pain?

To learn more about prevention and treatment strategies for heel pain in athletes, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry. You can reach him in the Fort Walton Beach, FL, office by calling (850) 862-4119 or in Crestview, FL, by calling (850) 682-6522, so call today.