Left untreated, heel pain can lead to more serious issues over time.

In adults, the most common cause of heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis, now more accurately known as Plantar Fasciopathy. Typically, those affected experience sharp pain in the heel first thing in the morning or after periods of rest, which often subsides with activity.

In children, the most frequent type of heel pain is Sever’s disease, which presents as pain at the back of the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attaches. Sever’s is commonly observed in very active children and adolescents.

Several risk factors contribute to the development of Plantar Fasciopathy, including obesity, occupations that involve long periods of standing or walking, running, extremely flat or high-arched foot types, and poor footwear choices.