There are various causes of pain on the bottom of the foot, including heel spurs, plantar fasciitis and fallen arches, according to WebMD. Heel spurs are bone growths that form on the bottom of the heel bone, leading to pain when walking or standing.
Heel spurs have various causes, including having bad posture, wearing poor fitting shoes and performing activities such as running, notes WebMD. Two factors that increase the risk of experiencing pain with heel spurs are having high arches or flat feet, and treatment involves physical therapy, pain medication, proper footwear and, in rare cases, surgery.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia tissue on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed, according to MedlinePlus. Overusing the plantar fascia causes plantar fasciitis, and risk factors for developing the condition include having flat feet or high arches, running long distances and being overweight. Patients with plantar fasciitis experience dull or sharp heel pain that is worse in the morning. Treatments include pain medication, foot exercises and rest.
Fallen arches, also known as flat feet, is a common condition that refers to feet that do not have normal arches, explains MedlinePlus. Patients develop flat feet as a result of loose joints in the feet that never tighten to form an arch. Children with the condition sometimes have foot and ankle pain, while adults experience achy feet after standing for a long period of time. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, patients may not need any treatment, or they may need to wear special shoes or have surgery.
