Three reasons you have heel pain when running

Heel Pain Running

Running is one of the most common ways that people get in their cardio, but this activity can easily cause you pain, including pain in your heel. 

The reality is that most people are likely to develop some type of injury as a result of running. One study shows that up to 79% of recreational runners are injured at some point. The same study also reveals that up to 39.3% of running injuries involve the foot. A physical therapist can help you figure out why you have heel pain when running; these specialists can also help you effectively treat heel pain and prevent it from returning. 

These are three common reasons people have heel pain when running

Physical therapists are experts at treating issues with the musculoskeletal system, including the foot problems. In many cases when people feel heel pain when running, therapists can narrow the cause down to one of three reasons: 

  1. You’re running too much — Running is an activity that involves a lot of repetitive movements. These movements can lead to heel issues if done too often or for too long at one time. For instance, running can lead to repetitive motion injuries in the Achilles tendons. This is called Achilles tendinitis, and it can easily cause you heel pain. 
  1. Your shoes aren’t supporting you properly — Your shoes have cushioning inside them that helps reduce the stress running puts on your feet and legs. Many running shoes are also designed to support structures in your feet like your arches. However, the support your shoes offer tends to degrade over time. After a while, shoes can wear out to the point that they’re causing heel pain due to plantar fasciitis or other issues. 
  1. There’s something wrong with your gait — Gait is the way our legs, ankles and feet move as we walk or run. There are many issues that can throw off your running gait and cause heel pain. One such issue is called overpronation, and this is when your foot rolls too far inward when you walk. Supination is another gait issue that can affect your feet. It occurs when your foot rolls too far outward as you walk or run. 

Find help with heel pain when running from SSOR

Are you tired of feeling heel pain when you go running? Our SSOR physical therapists are ready and willing to help you treat your heel pain. We’ll start by doing a free screening on your heel to determine what’s causing your pain. Then, our therapists can construct a personalized therapy plan for you that’s designed to reduce your pain and prevent it from returning. Some therapy methods that we might include in your plan are: 

Contact us today for more information about how we can help you treat running injuries and pain or to schedule an initial appointment.