People who stand for long periods during the working day are more likely to get heel pain and plantar fasciopathy (fasciitis). Other causes can be wearing heels, sudden changes in activity levels and unsupportive shoes while running or walking. Common treatments for heel pain are physiotherapy exercises and/or steroid injection.
Physiotherapy can help plantar fasciopathy by using exercises to reduce the tension on the arch of the foot and improve balance and proprioception. These exercises are relatively simple but require daily practice and a gradual increase in difficulty for improvement in pain. Additionally, prescribing foot orthotics, taping the foot, manual therapy of the plantar fascia, and mobilizations of the tarsal bones of the foot can help resolve the pain.
Steroid injections are generally painful and can cause a temporary flare up of pain. The skin can also become thin and change colour in the area of injection.
A Canadian study of 56 people over 12 weeks showed that physiotherapy exercises are as effective as an injection with steroid (dexamethasone) at resolving heel pain.
You can read more about this study at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/m/pubmed/2417265
