What is heel pain? My mother is 58 years old and she always complains of left heel pain in the morning when she gets out of bed, but she feels better after moving around for a while. How should I treat it? A: According to your brief description, your mother should be suffering from heel pain. Heel pain is a common disease in the elderly, although from the appearance of neither red nor swollen, but when standing or walking will feel pins and needles-like pain, bringing great inconvenience to action. Heel pain can be caused by heel spur, heel bursitis, Achilles tendonitis, heel pad inflammation, heel fracture and other causes. When subjected to cold and humidity, long standing, long distance walking, running and walking on uneven roads, the tendon ligaments of the heel will occur chronic and repeated injury and aseptic inflammation, exudation, edema, adhesions or bursa formation, local pressure increases to produce pain, limping. Why are older people prone to heel pain? The reason is that when people get older, the metatarsal fascia begins to undergo degenerative changes, and the fibrous tissues that make up the metatarsal fascia gradually lose their elasticity. If long-term continuous pulling occurs at the attachment of the metatarsal tuberosity, chronic damage can occur, and it is difficult to return to the original structure, often forming scar tissue, making the metatarsal fascia even less elastic, and pain persists without relief. If the traumatic inflammatory reaction of the metatarsal fascia at the heel tuberosity persists for a long time, it will stimulate the periosteum of the heel bone, resulting in osteophytes and the formation of bird’s beak-like bone spurs, which can produce mechanical compression of the plantar soft tissue and pain when the foot is weight bearing. The bone spur is usually not absorbed after formation, but after treatment, the symptoms of heel pain can be eliminated. Local closure: This is the most effective and best treatment method, which can directly block the nerve conduction pathway of nociception, improve local blood circulation, and promote the dissipation and absorption of inflammatory edema, thus achieving the purpose of pain recovery. Physical therapy: physiotherapy, local heat application, vinegar ion penetration therapy can be carried out So how to prevent heel pain? Use sponge heel pads to reduce pressure on the heel and prevent damage to the heel bone. Warm water foot soak, supplemented by physical therapy when possible, can reduce local inflammation and relieve pain. Prevent excessive weight bearing and exertion in the elderly, including weight control and avoiding heavy physical activities. Middle-aged and elderly people pay attention to calcium supplementation to prevent osteoporosis Often do plantar stirrups to enhance the tension of the metatarsal tendon membrane, strengthen its ability to resist strain, and reduce local inflammation.