Running with heel pain can be an agonizing experience. For those with active lifestyles, it's hard to adjust and limit your physical activity and routines once you encounter heel pain. This makes it important to know the symptoms and treatment methods for some of the most common types of heel pain that develop among runners.

The bones of the feet are protected by dense fibrous tissue called plantar fascia, which extends from the heel to the toes. This cushions the feet whenever we walk or put weight on them. If, for some reason, tears or inflammation develop in the heel pad due to constant tension from running, jogging or dancing, the planter nerve becomes irritated and inflamed. This is plantar fasciitis or the painful heel syndrome, which is marked by mild to intense pain at the back of the foot, especially when weight is placed on the heel.

Plantar Fasciitis usually develops gradually. Heel pain may only occur when taking the first steps after getting out of bed or when taking the first steps after sitting for a long period of time. If the plantar fascia ligament is not rested, the inflammation and heel pain will get worse. Other conditions or aggravating factors, such as the repetitive stress of walking, standing, running, or jumping, will contribute to the inflammation and pain.

The traditional remedies for plantar fasciitis include stretching the calf, massaging, decreasing one's training, losing weight, purchasing better-fitting shoes (with a raised heel and arch support), icing the sore heel, and taking ibuprofen. Another treatment option, also known as one of the easiest, is using heel seats in your shoes. Heel seats pick up and re-stretch the plantar fascia, redistribute the heels natural fat pad, provide structural reinforcement to the foot, and apply acupressure to relieve the pain while your feet heal.

Climbing up and down stairs, walking or running on hills, squatting, carrying heavy items and walking on uneven terrain all place excess stress through the feet. Decrease these activities by asking your spouse, significant other or friend for help with the kids or carrying heavy items. Avoid multiple trips up and down the stairs at work and home. Limit gardening to flatter more even terrain. Stop running and walking for exercise and try biking or swimming. Avoid the stair stepper, the treadmill and the elliptical machine at the gym.

Keeping up aerobic activity is important and cross training can help. Try biking or swimming. Most walkers hate the stationary bike at the gym, but this isn't forever. Don't drop your heel when you bike and try to avoid standing and climbing steep hills if you cycle outdoors. If you participate in spin classes, you may need to modify the class to avoid further injury to the foot. The recumbent stationary bike may place excess stress through the arch because of the position. The classic stationary bike may be more appropriate.

The Lunge exercise is suitable for stretching both calf muscles. The gastrocnemius (the main muscle in the calf region) is stretched by keeping the heel of the back leg on the ground. The front leg goes well forward, keep your balance; stay tall and in this upright position, lean forward until the stretch is felt on the straight back leg. "Placing the front foot flat on a chair, the soleus (the smaller muscle in the calf) can be given an extra stretch. Push the bent knee forward with the hands until the muscle starts to feel a little tight.