Heel pain is the most common foot problem and affects two million Americans every year. It can occur in the front, back, or bottom of the heel. This band, much like the tensed string in a bow, forms the arch of the foot and helps to serve as a shock absorber for the body. Because the condition often occurs in only one foot, however, factors other than overuse may be responsible in some cases. Other causes of this injury include poorly fitting shoes or an uneven stride that causes an abnormal and stressful impact on the foot.
Pain often occurs suddenly and mainly in the heel.
The condition can be temporary or may become chronic if the problem is ignored. In such cases, resting provides relief, but it is only temporary. Bursitis of the Heel. Bursitis of the heel is an inflammation of the bursa, a small sack of fluid tissue, beneath the heel bone. It develops when the back of the shoe, almost always one with a high heel, repeatedly rubs against the back of the heel, aggravating the tissue and the underlying bone.