Heel pain: hands-on physical therapy and stretching prove effective for treating heel pain.

D o you ever wake up with pain in the heel of your foot first thing in the morning? If so, you may have plantar fasciitis, the most common type of heel pain. People with heel pain typically report a sharp pain under their heel that may spread into the arch of the foot. The pain is often worse when the person stands after lying down or following a period of sitting—for example, taking the first couple of steps in the morning or standing up after watching TV. Although the pain may actually decrease with activity, such as walking, it tends to return at the end of the day. Plantar fasciitis is not typically the result of an injury. Instead, this condition usually develops gradually and, if untreated, may get worse over time. By current estimates, 2 million Americans develop heel pain each year, and about 10% of all people will have heel pain at some point in their lives. The February 2011 issue of JOSPT published a research study that provides new evidence that can help people who suffer from heel pain.