Health Tip of the Month

Reasons for your Heel Pain

• Faulty foot structure (for example, overly flat feet, high-arched feet).
• Wearing non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces.

Symptoms

• Pain on the bottom of the heel.
• More severe pain in the morning (just arising from the bed).
• Pain worsen over a period of time.

Avoidance and Home Remedy

• Stretching Exercises: Exercises that stretch out the calf muscles. Following is a list of such exercises that might help prevent heel pain or make existing heel pain better (or go away):

- Longsitting Achilles Stretch (also known as Towel Stretch)
	In the seated position with your legs straight, loop a towel around the ball of one foot and gently pull back. You should feel a stretch in your calf. Hold this stretch for 20 to 30 seconds, then relax. Do this 10 times on one foot, and then switch to the other foot.
- Gastroc Achilles Stretch:
	Stand facing a wall, with one foot in front of another. Lean forward with your hands on the wall and your back straihgt. Bend the front leg, leaving the rear leg straight and keeping both heels on the floor. Continue until you feel a gentle stretch. Hold for 20 seconds, then repeat with the other leg frward. Do 1 set of 5.
- Soleus Achilles Stretch
	STand facing a wall, with one foot in front of anpther. lean forward with your hands on the wall and your back straight upright. Bend both leg slightly, keeping both heels on the floor. Continue until you feel a gentle stretch. Hold for 20 seconds, then repeat with the other leg forward. Do 1 set of 5 repetitions.
- Marble Pickup
	Increasing agility of the foot improves overall mobility. Use your toes to pick up several marbles, dropping them, one at a time, into a cup. Do 1 set of 30.
- Toe Flexion
	Sit on a chair with your heels on the floor. Now curl your toes as far as possible. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax and straighten your toes. Do 1 set of 30.
- Toe Curling, Single Leg
	With foot resting on a towel, slowly bunch towel as you curl up toes. [Don't worry if the towel is not bunching up. Keep doing it.] Do 1 set of 30.
- Floor Board calf Stretch
	Stand near a wall with one foot on the floor and the other inclined on the fwall (The heel on the floor and toes on the wall). Now try to come closer to the wall with your inclined foot intact. You may lift the other foot up. Continue this until you feel a gentle stretch. Hold for 20 seconds and then repeat with your other leg. Do 1 set of 5.

• Avoid Going Barefoot: When you walk without shoes, you put undue strain and stress on your plantar fascia. Hence, always keep a supportive shoe on.
• Shoe Modifications & Replacement: Wearing supportive shoes that have good arch support and a slightly raised heel reduces stress on the plantar fascia. If you are a runner/jogger, try to replace your shoe every 300-400 miles. Also try to get a shoe from a local running store who can verify the kind of shoe you need.