Heel Pain | Heavy Steps, Heavy Heels: Managing Heel Pain When You're Overweight
Heel pain is a common foot problem that can leave you feeling frustrated and immobile. If you're struggling with weight loss, it can make the symptoms of heel pain even worse.
This article explains how carrying extra weight contributes to plantar fasciitis and offers simple ways to alleviate the symptoms.
Increased Weight Leads to Increase Stress On Your Feet
Extra weight puts added stress on our bodies, including our feet. This can lead to many foot problems, including plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes and supports the arches of the feet.
When inflamed, it can cause sharp pain in the heel, especially in the morning or after prolonged standing or walking.
Why Excercise Helps
If you're struggling with chronic heel pain and find that your weight is making it worse, it can be discouraging to exercise.
However, not exercising can contribute to further weight gain, creating a vicious cycle.
The first step towards relief is to start with simple stretching exercises. Gentle stretching exercises can help improve flexibility and reduce discomfort.
Simple Self Management
Taking care of your feet is important to good health and well-being.
Wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes can go a long way in helping reduce heel pain. It's also important to take time out to rest your feet and elevate them whenever possible.
Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C and E can help reduce inflammation while regular exercise can strengthen both muscles and bones in the foot area, providing more support for the plantar fascia.
With proper care, you can manage heel pain effectively and get back to living more comfortably and easily!
Supportive Footwear
It's also important to wear cushioned-sole shoes and avoid going barefoot. Supportive shoes can help reduce pressure on your heels and provide comfort.
Treatments For Chronic Symptoms
You can also take over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol to alleviate the pain.
If the pain persists or worsens, it's best to consult a doctor for further diagnosis and treatment.
You may also want to consider alternative treatments if your pain persists, such as physiotherapy, steroid injections, shockwave therapy or PRP injections.
These treatments may offer relief of symptoms for more chronic or resistant cases.
Losing weight can help reduce the stress on your feet and alleviate heel pain.
Consider gradually incorporating a healthy diet and regular low-intensity exercise, such as walking or swimming, into your routine.
However, if you are very overweight and have a high BMI over 35, you may want to consider a more medicalised approach to weight loss. If this applies to you, Foot-Doctor can support you on your journey.
When you want to lose a significant amount of weight or have associated or undiagnosed health conditions, you should approach your weight loss carefully and under the guidance of a doctor.
In Summary
Heel pain can be debilitating, especially if you're losing weight.
Understanding that excessive weight can contribute to plantar fasciitis and worsen heel pain symptoms is essential.
Small changes like wearing cushioned shoes and performing simple stretching exercises can alleviate discomfort.
However, if your pain persists for over three months, you might want to consider additional treatment options and speak to a foot specialist.
Remember, losing weight carefully under the guidance of doctors and adopting healthy habits can also help reduce the stress on your feet and alleviate heel pain.
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