Heel pain

Category: Muscles, Bones & Joints · All muscles & joints symptoms

What it can feel like

Heel pain is most often felt under the heel, worst with the first steps after rest — getting out of bed in the morning is classic — easing as you get moving, then aching again after long standing. This pattern is plantar fasciitis: overload where the strong band of the sole meets the heel bone.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Heel pain can be associated with plantar fasciitis (overload, increased walking or running, weight, tight calves), inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel, and a bruised heel fat pad.

Other possible causes

Heel pain can also be associated with stress fractures of the heel bone, inflammatory arthritis patterns (especially with back stiffness or other joint symptoms), trapped nerves around the ankle, and, rarely, infection or tumours of the bone.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Heel pain after an injury with inability to bear weight
Heel pain with numbness or pins and needles in the foot
Heel pain in both feet with prolonged back stiffness in a young adult
A hot, swollen heel with fever

What a clinician may do

A clinician will press the sole's origin at the heel, test calf tightness and Achilles function, and ask about activity changes. Most plantar fasciitis needs no imaging; X-ray or ultrasound is used for atypical or persistent cases. Calf stretching and load management are the core treatment.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchFoot arch and heel pain explainedWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchPlantar fasciitis symptoms and tapingWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchPlantar fasciitis sharp heel painWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Procedure & test guide: Casting And Splinting For Fractures

Frequently asked questions

Why are the first morning steps the worst?

Overnight the plantar fascia rests shortened and its micro-overloaded fibres stiffen; the first steps suddenly load and tug them before they warm up and lengthen. The pattern — worst first steps, easing with movement, aching after long standing — is so characteristic that imaging is rarely needed.

Do heel spurs cause the pain?

Usually not — spurs are common in pain-free feet and reflect long-standing pulling at the bone rather than the pain source itself. Removing a spur is not the treatment; calming the fascia's overload is.

Related symptoms — Muscles, Bones & Joints

A joint that locks or gives way Aching and stiffness in the shoulders and hips Aching muscles Ankle pain Back pain Elbow pain

Browse the H section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.

Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.