Bursitis of the Foot

Soft Tissue Conditions· Also known as: foot bursitisUpdated Oct 2026

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, October 2026

At a Glance

Bursitis of the foot is irritation and swelling of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the space between a bone and a tendon, muscle or skin. It most often affects the back of the heel, but it can also happen over the ankle bones or in the ball of the foot. Heel bursitis is a recognised cause of heel pain, and bursitis in other parts of the foot is less common. The main symptom is pain with swelling, redness or warmth. Most people get better with simple, non-surgical care.

What is it?

A bursa is a small sac of fluid that works like a cushion. It sits between a bone and a tendon, muscle or skin and helps things glide past each other without rubbing. Bursitis means a bursa has become irritated and inflamed (swollen and sore).

In the foot and ankle, bursitis can affect three main areas. One is the back of the heel, where a bursa sits between the Achilles tendon (the thick cord at the back of your ankle) and the heel bone. Another is over the bumps of the ankle bones. The third is the ball of the foot, between the long bones of the mid-foot or near the toes.

Heel bursitis is a recognised cause of heel pain. Bursitis in other parts of the foot is less common. A bursa can sometimes become infected as well.

Who does it affect?

Anyone can get it, but it is more likely if your feet are under repeated rubbing or pressure. Runners and people who suddenly do much more walking or exercise than usual are at risk. So are people who wear tight shoes that press on the back of the heel or squeeze the front of the foot.

Some people have a bump on the back of the heel bone, called a Haglund's bump. This can rub on the bursa. Having a tight Achilles tendon or a high arch may also play a part, and it can run in families.

Conditions that cause inflammation in the body, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also lead to bursitis.

Signs and symptoms

The main sign is pain in one spot, often with swelling, redness or warmth. At the back of the heel, the pain may be worse when you rise up onto your toes or when you start walking after resting. You might limp.

Bursitis in the ball of the foot tends to cause pain there. It is often linked with other problems of the ball of the foot.

It can help to note exactly where it hurts and what makes it worse. Comparing the sore foot with the other one can show up swelling or warmth.

What causes it?

Most foot bursitis is a mechanical problem. A bursa is squeezed, rubbed or sheared again and again, usually over time rather than from one injury. Running and walking, a sharp rise in activity, and shoes that press on the back of the heel or squeeze the forefoot are common triggers.

Sometimes inflammation inside the body is the cause. Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or crystal deposits in the tissue.

A bursa can also become infected, often after a cut or other injury to the skin, or when a skin infection spreads. An infected bursa needs medical treatment, as described in the section on when to see a practitioner.

How is it diagnosed?

Bursitis is usually diagnosed from your story and an examination. Your podiatrist will ask where the pain is, when it started, what makes it worse, and about your shoes and activity. They will look at the area, feel for tenderness, warmth and swelling, and check how you move and walk.

You usually don't need a scan. An ultrasound or MRI may be used if you aren't improving, to check for other problems such as an Achilles tendon problem, or before an injection or surgery is considered.

If infection is suspected, fluid may be drawn from the bursa and tested. Not having a fever doesn't rule out an infection.

Treatment

Most bursitis gets better without surgery. Almost every case of bursitis at the back of the heel improves with simple, non-surgical care.

Looking after it at home

For heel bursitis, avoid the activities that hurt most for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Skip high-impact activity such as running and jumping. You don't need to stop moving altogether, so choose gentler activities that don't set off the pain. Avoid putting pressure on the sore spot.

Hold an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the area for about 10 minutes at a time. Repeat this every few hours during the day. Don't put ice directly on your skin.

Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease the pain. Check with your GP or pharmacist that ibuprofen is safe for you if you have other health conditions, and take it as directed.

Shoes matter too. Anything that takes pressure off the back of the heel helps. Avoid shoes with very hard heel areas, very flat shoes and high heels. For the ball of the foot, avoid tight or high-heeled shoes and choose a wider toe box and a thicker sole.

If you aren't improving after 1 to 2 weeks, get advice.

Treatment from your podiatrist

Your podiatrist can check what is causing the pain and rule out other problems. They can then advise on shoes, activity changes and how to ease pressure on the area. They can also help you decide whether you need a scan or a referral.

Other options

If simple care isn't enough, a steroid injection may be discussed. Injection near the Achilles tendon can damage the tendon and may cause it to tear. For this reason it is generally kept as a last resort. It must not be used if the bursa is infected.

Drawing fluid off a bursa that isn't infected is generally not recommended, because it can lead to an infection.

An infected bursa is treated with antibiotics. People who are very unwell may need to be treated in hospital with antibiotics through a drip.

Surgery

Surgery is rarely needed. It is considered only for stubborn cases that haven't responded to other care, such as Haglund's syndrome that keeps causing problems, or for an infected bursa that doesn't respond to antibiotics or keeps coming back.

Recovery

The outlook is good. Almost all cases of heel bursitis improve with simple, non-surgical care. How long this takes isn't clear yet, so ask your podiatrist what to expect for you.

Because the problem usually builds from repeated rubbing and strain, going back to the same activity or shoes too soon can bring it back. Complications are uncommon.

Preventing it

The aim is to reduce pressure and friction on the area. Build up running or walking gradually rather than suddenly. Choose supportive shoes with enough room, and avoid tight, pointed or high-heeled shoes.

Keep up your shoe and activity changes even after the pain settles. Whether these steps stop bursitis coming back isn't clear yet, but they are sensible, low-risk habits.

When to see a podiatrist

Book an appointment if

Your heel or foot pain hasn't improved after 1 to 2 weeks of looking after it at home, or it is getting worse. See your GP soon if you have tingling or loss of feeling in your foot, or if you have diabetes and any heel pain, because foot problems can be more serious with diabetes.

Seek prompt assessment if

Go to the nearest emergency department if your foot or ankle looks a funny shape or sits at an odd angle after an injury. See your GP or another doctor today if you have severe pain after an injury, you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise when you were hurt, or you have difficulty moving your ankle or foot. These can be signs of a broken bone or a torn Achilles tendon. If you think you may have broken your heel bone, don't try to treat it yourself: see a doctor today. See your GP or another doctor today too if you have a high temperature, feel hot, cold or shivery, the redness is spreading, the pain or swelling is significant or very severe, you can't move the joint, or you still struggle to put weight on your foot. An infected bursa can look like this, and not having a fever doesn't rule it out. If your GP can't see you today, go to an urgent care clinic or an after-hours GP. If you have a foot wound or infection and you also feel very unwell, with confusion or slurred speech, severe shivering or muscle pain, severe breathlessness, mottled or discoloured skin, or little or no urine, this could be sepsis: call your local emergency number.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep running with heel bursitis?

It's best to avoid running and jumping while the heel is sore, especially for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Avoid the activities that hurt most and switch to gentler options that don't set off the pain. Ask your podiatrist when and how to go back to running, and build up gradually when you do.

What is Haglund's syndrome?

It is pain at the back of the heel linked with a bony bump on the heel bone. It can look and feel like heel bursitis, and the pain is often worst when you start walking after resting. It usually affects middle-aged people, more often women, and often both feet. Tight or poorly fitting shoes, a tight Achilles tendon, a high arch and family history may play a part.

Could my pain be something other than bursitis?

Yes. Pain at the back of the heel can also come from an Achilles tendon problem, plantar fasciitis (irritation of the band under the foot) or a torn Achilles tendon. Redness and swelling can also be a skin infection (cellulitis), or inflammatory arthritis. Pain in the ball of the foot has other causes too. Your podiatrist can tell them apart by finding exactly where it is tender, and sometimes by ultrasound or MRI.