Northern Michigan's News LeaderHealthy Living: Healing Heel Pain

Two million Americans suffer with plantar fasciitis. One out of ten people experience it in their lifetime… making it the most common cause of heel pain. So what can you do to not only treat it, but prevent it? Robyn Haines has today's Healthy Living.

Our feet average 115,000 miles of walking in our lifetime. But, with overuse, we can develop heel pain often caused by plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the feet.

That's what happened to Michelle Mehr. She ruptured her planta fascia playing competitive ultimate Frisbee and couldn't exercise for a year.

Athletes like Michelle and people who are either overweight or stand for long periods of time are most prone to plantar fasciitis. Wearing old, worn out shoes is another culprit. Make sure to replace yours every three to six months. Early intervention includes a good balancing and stretching program.

At home, you can try doing hip abductions or clamshells—which is where you stack your hips in a fetal position and raise. 

If a stretching program doesn't help after 6 weeks, you may have to get some custom made orthotics, but experts recommend trying over the counter inserts first.

Another tip? Have someone look at how you're running to make sure you're not overpronating and putting yourself at risk.