Heel pain is something that can negatively affect your everyday life, especially if you spend much of your day on your feet. While icing your heels at the end of a long period of standing may help to reduce your discomfort, there are a number of other things you can do to alleviate your pain. If your pain persists, it's a good idea to find a local podiatry clinic and schedule an appointment. Your podiatrist will be able to determine why your heels are sore, and suggest some solutions. In the meantime, here are some changes that you can make.
Bend Your Knees More
Many people stand with their knees locked, and this posture may lead to heel pain — especially if your job dictates a lot of standing. When your knees are locked, more of your weight is toward the rear of each foot, which means that your weight is predominantly on your heels rather than evenly distributed from the front of your feet to the rear. You can reduce this pressure — and, ideally, reduce your discomfort — by simply bending your knees a little. The bend shouldn't be exaggerated; it shouldn't feel awkward to stand up. Instead, just focus on "unlocking" the knees and you'll notice that your weight transfers forward a little.
Use Shoe Inserts
Gel-style shoe inserts can be valuable for reducing your heel pain. Don't just buy any inserts, though — make sure that those you purchase are specifically designed to alleviate heel pain. Many leading shoe insert companies have a variety of different products designed to accommodate people with various types of foot discomfort. You likely want inserts that provide cushioning around your heel, rather than those that provide a moderate amount of cushioning for the entire foot.
Don't Go Barefoot
Another way to reduce your heel pain is to make sure that your heels are always supported. This means that you should no longer go barefoot or walk around in sock feet at home. Don't just buy a pair of generic slippers, as their padding is often minimal. Instead, it's a better idea to invest in a pair of running shoes that you can exclusively use indoors. You can also think about buying a second pair of inserts to live in your indoor shoes, as this will avoid you having to switch your inserts from your outdoor shoes to your indoor shoes repeatedly throughout the day.
For more tips, check out sites like http://www.advancedfootclinic.org.
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