Heel pain is a frustrating problem to have; it can be disruptive to your entire life, especially if your job requires you to be on your feet. At 
Foot First Podiatry, in New Albany, IN, Dr. Zahid Ladha sees a lot of patients who have heel pain but aren't sure what caused it. Your podiatrist can discuss areas of the foot that are often responsible for heel pain with you.
Achilles tendon
Our patients typically describe two different kinds of heel pain to us: if it comes from the back of the heel (where the strap of a sandal would wrap around), it is typically caused by inflammation within the Achilles tendon. This large, stretchy band of tissue connects the heel to the calf and can become strained due to running or other sports that require a lot of quick movements with the feet (such as tennis or basketball). Often your New Albany podiatrist finds that poor-quality footwear is to blame, but starting a high-intensity exercise regimen suddenly or skipping the warm-up portion of your workout can cause problems in this area of the foot. This disorder is called Achilles tendonitis.
Plantar fascia
When our patients at Foot First Podiatry in New Albany complain of pain originating from the bottom of the heel (the round, padded part of the foot that rests the ground when you stand), Dr. Ladha often suspects a breakdown in the structure of the plantar fascia, which is the ligament that spans the arch of the foot. Like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis often develops due to excessive exercise, particularly running, especially if your shoes don't fit properly. An anatomical issue with the foot arch - such as flat feet - may also play a part. The pain associated with plantar fasciitis is often the worst in the morning, just after getting out of bed, and gets better after walking around for a while.
Regardless of the reason for your heel pain, trust your podiatrist at Foot First Podiatry in New Albany, IN, to help you recover. Contact our office for an appointment today!