Heel pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the
heel causes extreme discomfort. There are two different
categories of heel pain. The first is caused by over-use
repetitive stress which refers to a soreness resulting from too
much impact on a specific area of the foot. This condition,
often referred to as "heel pain syndrome," can be caused by
shoes with heels that are too low, a thinned out fat pad in the
heel area, or from a sudden increase in activity. Plantar
fasciitis, a very common diagnosis of heel pain, is usually
caused from a biomechancial problem, such as over-pronation
(flat feet). The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous
tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot, from the
heel through the midfoot and into the forefoot. Over-pronation
can cause the plantar fascia to be excessively stretched and
inflamed, resulting in pain in the heel and arch areas of the
foot. Often the pain will be most intense first thing in the
morning or after a prolonged period of rest. The pai