How to Treat Black Heel

Black heel is a condition common to runners, basketball players and other athletes involved in high-impact activity. The tenderness and blackening of the heel is a result of broken blood capillaries. The heel functions as the body's shock absorber, and a significant amount of impact causes these capillaries to burst. There is no medical reason to stop the physical exercise that caused the black heel. However, the lesions or blackening will not disappear unless you temporarily modify your activity.

Instructions

• 1

  Once you notice the tenderness and blackening of the heel, apply an icepack to the area and discontinue physical activity for the day.

• 2

  Stop the offending activity temporarily. If you want the lesions on your heel to disappear, you must stop or limit the activity that caused it until the blackening dissipates. Runners, for example, should temporarily switch to cycling or swimming. Or, at the very least, substitute running with these activities a few days a week.

• 3

  Reduce the amount of stress and impact placed on the heel. To prevent black heel from recurring, modify your activity in the future. Before you resume running or any other high-impact activity, place a felt pad or cushion in the heel of your shoe to reduce the impact. If you are overweight, losing weight is an important way to permanently reduce the amount of stress that the heel is subjected to.