Inflammation of the fascia on the bottom of the foot is the most common cause of heel pain.
There are many documented causes of plantar fasciitis. Possible causes include poor flexibility of the calf muscles, no arch support, a sudden increase in one's level of activity, poor footwear, being overweight, excessive pronation, or repetitive stress conditions (long distance running). Common causes of a bruised heel bone are poor cushioning of the heel due to fat pad atrophy (shrinkage in the size of the fat pad) poor footwear, excessive walking on hard surfaces, and being overweight.
Depending on which medical study you read, anywhere form 8-21% of the population suffers from plantar fasciitis. The pain is typically located at the front of the base of the heel. Less often, the pain extends along the arch of the foot. The result is micro-tearing of the plantar fascia where it attaches to the base of the heel bone. An ensuing inflammatory response occurs producing pain, swelling, warmth, loss of function (difficulty with any standing or walking), and less often, redness.
Plantar fasciitis is often worst in the morning after taking your first steps out of bed and will often feel better after walking around for a while. Conservative treatment is recommended, which involves soft tissue mobilization and managing inflammation. Often, patients with this diagnosis will see marked improvements in as little as 4-6 weeks.