Heel Bruise

The heel bone in our feet is known as calcaneus. Any trauma or injury to this heel bone results in heel bruise. Heel bruise occurs when parts of the fat pad which protects the calcaneus, get pushed on the sides of the heel bone, thus, weakening this protective layer on the heel and causing swelling and pain in the process. People who are more susceptible to a heel bruise are sports persons and dancers, though common people like you and me can be affected by this condition too. Researches have shown that cold weather may sometimes aggravate this condition in people. Given below is a detailed analysis of the symptoms, causes and treatment options for a heel bruise.

Heel Bruise Causes

• Heel bruise, also known as heel contusion, can occur if there has been an external injury to the heel because of any physical activity, such as exercises.
• Heel bone fracture can lead to a heel bruise too.
• Plantar fasciitis, a condition under which plantar fascia, a fibrous ligament under the heel bone swells, can cause a heel bruise.
• Repetitive strain injury, caused due to repeatedly pounding the heel, can also result in a bruised heel.

Symptoms of Heel Bruise

Heel bruise symptoms include extreme pain in the heel, which gets exaggerated when the person suffering from it walks downhill. The pain also has a tendency to get worse when the person is participating in such sports that involve a number of direction changes, such as badminton and soccer. Marching up and down in parades, increases the heel pain too. Another symptom of heel bruise is redness and swelling around the heel.

Treatment for Heel Bruise

For heel bruise treatment, it is very essential that adequate rest is provided to the affected area so that quick recovery is possible. The affected foot should not be moved, at least for the initial seventy two hours. Besides resting the heel, the following home remedies should be followed, to keep the pain in check and to heal the affected area faster.

• Applying ice packs or ice to the affected area helps in soothing the heel pain. The earlier cold therapy is given to the affected area, the lesser pain the person will have to go through.
• Taping the fat pad on the heel helps in healing heel bruise and also shortens the heel bruise recovery time. If taping is done appropriately, it compresses the soft tissue beneath the heel, thus cushioning and protecting the heel from any kind of pressure or impact.
• Keeping the leg at an elevated position helps in treating the heel bruise too.
• Applying hot compressions to the injured area can make the healing faster. Massage therapy can provide great relief too. However, precaution should be taken that both heat therapy and massage therapy should be taken only after three to four days after the injury.

Besides these treatments, pain killers such as ibuprofen can be taken, especially if the pain symptoms associated with the heel bruise become worse. However, if the heel pain refuses to go away and persists for a very long time,i.e. more than a week, it could be due to other conditions such as Achilles tendon injury or a heel spur. In such a case, it is recommended to contact a doctor immediately for proper diagnoses and treatment.

Heel Bruise Prevention

It is often said that following precautions is always better than curing a problem. So to avoid a heel bruise, make use of a heel pad, such as a silicon heel pad, as it helps in lessening the impact of physical activities which put pressure and cause injury to the heels. Secondly, wear a footwear with shock absorbers as it helps in avoiding a heel bruise. Lastly, doing stretching exercises, especially if you are involved in physical activities such as dancing and sports, can go a long way in preventing this discomforting and painful condition.

After reading this article, you now have a fairly good idea of what is a heel bruise and also the ways to treat it. One word of caution before I sign off - as mentioned above, if the symptoms worsen and the heel pain becomes excruciating day by day, a doctor should be contacted without any delay.