“When the plantar fascia or the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed, it can be caused by an increase in activity, an increase in body weight, or from wearing old shoes, flat shoes, bad shoes, or no shoes,” says Jacqueline Sutera, DPM, a podiatrist in New York City.
And for older adults in particular, heels might hurt as a result of what’s known as fat pad atrophy. This condition occurs when the protective fat pad on the bottom of the heel and the ball of the foot thins, which leaves the heel bone with less of its natural cushioning. “The heels absorb the majority of the impact every time your foot hits the ground,” Hook says. “So as the fat pad starts to decrease, heel pain can increase.”
