There are bursae at the back of the heel bone. A bursa is a small sac filled with fluid that helps reduce friction. If there is too much pressure or friction, a bursa can become irritated and swell up.

This can cause pain, redness and swelling at the back of the heel. Sometimes this is accompanied by a lump on the heel bone or irritation of the Achilles tendon.

The symptoms often arise due to prolonged pressure or friction on the back of the heel. This can cause irritation to the bursa.

Possible causes include:

shoes with a hard heel edge;
a bony protrusion at the back of the heel bone;
an abnormal position of the foot;
stiff calf muscles;
doing a lot of sport or walking;
an unstable gait pattern;
additional friction between the heel, shoe and Achilles tendon;
extra strain on the heel, for example due to being overweight.

The pain is at the back of the heel. Closed shoes often cause more discomfort.

You may notice that:

there is a painful swelling at the back of the heel;
the skin may be red or warm;
shoes that cause pressure or chafing;
walking or exercising makes the pain worse;
is sensitive to standing up after resting;
the Achilles tendon can also be painful.

A healthy lifestyle can have an impact on symptoms affecting the back of the heel. Adequate recovery, good footwear and a gradual build-up of activities help to reduce irritation. Maintaining a healthy body weight can also help to reduce the pressure on the heel.

Mental health also plays a role. Stress, tiredness or the pressure to get back to doing everything as quickly as possible can cause someone to build up their activities too quickly. This can lead to the bursa becoming irritated again. Our lifestyle coaches can support people in developing healthy habits, nutrition, exercise, recovery and mental balance.

There is a lot you can do yourself to reduce pressure and friction on the back of the heel.

To reduce symptoms, you can:

avoid shoes with a hard heel edge;
choose shoes with enough room at the heel;
temporarily reduce the physical strain of sport;
not accompanied by redness or increasing swelling;
check the skin for cuts;
Please contact us if you have a fever or obvious signs of inflammation.

Our podiatrists We will examine the pressure point, the position of your foot and your gait. We will also look at your shoes.

Treatment may consist of:

shoe advice;
temporarily relieve pressure;
podiatric insoles;
advice on shoe modifications;
advice on stress and recovery;
ultrasound examination;
working with a physiotherapist for Achilles tendon problems.

If the symptoms persist despite treatment, it may be necessary to consult your GP. Sometimes an assessment by another healthcare professional is required.

Bursitis at the back of the heel bone

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Bursitis at the back of the heel bone

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