Here are some simple strategies to prevent heel pain from happening to you.

Whether you’ve been dealing with recurring heel pain or you’re just looking to protect yourself from this common problem, our Naperville, IL, foot doctor Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski can help. Heel pain can quickly affect your daily routine, benching you from your typical workouts. Here are some helpful habits that can prevent heel pain from happening to you.

Lose Excess Weight

If you are overweight or obese you are at risk for developing plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain. Even just losing a few pounds can help alleviate some of the pressure and force being placed on the joints, tissue and bones of your feet. Of course, you want to begin a workout regimen that will ease you into physical activity without leading to heel pain. Talk with your podiatrist about healthy and safe ways to begin exercising.

Find the Proper Athletic Footwear

Not all tennis shoes are created equally. Someone who loves running on uneven, rocky terrain is going to need different shoes than someone who plays soccer. Turning to a specialty shoe store or athletic shop can be beneficial because they have experts that can measure your feet and recommend appropriate footwear that caters to your level of activity as well as your activity of choice. Also, remember: Shoes don’t last forever. If your sneakers are looking a bit worn it might be time to replace them.

Wear Custom Orthotics

From flat feet and high arches to arthritis and aging, there are many factors that can affect the biomechanics of your feet. Since people with flat feet, high arches and certain foot conditions are more likely to develop heel pain, our foot doctor can create custom orthotics right here at her Naperville, IL, practice. These special devices are formed to your feet and are placed into shoes to provide additional support, cushioning and shock absorption. If you find that your feet feel tired, achy and overworked easily, orthotics can help.

Stretch Your Feet Every Day

Just as you warm up and perform dynamic stretching before working out, you should also stretch and warm-up the joints, ligaments and muscles in the feet every day to prevent tension and other problems that could lead to heel pain and injury. While our podiatrist would be happy to show you a variety of different stretching exercises you can do, one of the most effective ones is the towel stretch. While these exercises can also be used to alleviate heel pain, they can also be performed daily to safeguard against this problem.

Our foot doctor at Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley in Naperville, IL, is here to provide you with the foot and ankle care you need. If you are dealing with severe, persistent or unresponsive heel pain schedule an appointment with us by calling (630) 778-7670.