Heel Pad

Kendo is a popular traditional martial art and sport that was designed after the sword battling of the samurai while making use of bamboo swords that greatly resembled the weapons utilized by these warriors. Generally speaking, Kendo is a safe sport with low chances of its participants acquiring any form of fractures, yet mild toe injuries can be quite a common sight when practicing this art. Beginner kendokas usually complain of feeling pain on their heels; this is because Kendo is often practiced with one’s bare feet and it is usually done on wooden floors so there definitely is great impact on one’s feet when executing various Kendo moves.
There is about forty percent of Kendoka who develop the excretion of free hemoglobin in their urine and this is called the hemoglobinuria. This is because of the red blood cells found in the skin and also the subcutaneous tissues of the soles that get ruined due to the continuous impact of a person’s heel hitting the floor. This is also the reason why a few Kendo practitioners develop the black heel which is distinguished by ecchymosis that is found on the person’s sole.

Black heel is an asymptomatic, trauma-induced, and self-limited darkening of posterolateral or the posterior aspect of one’s heel that commonly occurs in younger athletes. A heel pad is mostly utilized to treat this type of condition.

Heel Pains

What usually causes pains beneath one’s heels is the plantar fasciitis which is a type of pain that goes in time. But to speed up the recovery time of plantar fasciitis, treatment is necessary and this includes adequate rest, heel pads, the appropriate pain killers, proper footwear and the right type of exercise; for more severe cases, steroid injections or other treatments may be utilized to treat this.
Plantar fasciitis basically refers to the inflammation of an individual’s plantar fascia which is the strong band of tissue that extends from an individual’s heel (calcaneum) to the bones right in the middle of one’s foot. This helps support the curve of a foot, plus it also acts as form of shock-absorber hidden in the foot. Repeated injuries, especially to one’s fascia, are known to be the primary cause of plantar fasciitis and this is with or without any signs of inflammation; this type of injury is usually close to where the plantar fascia is fixed to the person’s heel bone.

Another one of the most common heel pains that Kendo practitioners acquire is the Achilles tendinitis which is basically the extreme usage of the Achilles tendon – the line of tissues that link the muscles of one’s calves at the back of the lower leg right to the person’s heel bone.

Benefits of using a Heel Pad

Remember that a heel pad is not created to treat certain types of injuries but it can greatly help prevent these while also alleviating numerous discomforts while in the process of healing. The heel pad is also made to provide adequate support, the proper fit, as well as additional cushioning that is necessary to comfortably take on the various pressure and strains during Kendo practice. Here are some of the benefits of using the heel pad.

Elevates the heels while lessening discomfort

This helps slightly elevate and cushion one’s heels and this can greatly help reduce and even prevent discomfort in one’s leg, foot, or heel.

Prevents over pronation

Over pronation is when the curve of a person’s foot has collapsed and flattens which causes instability or even the misalignment in an individual’s foot. This can lead to a variety of other issues such as ankle sprains, heel pain, arch pain, knee pains, as well as Achilles tendonitis. The heel pad is made to control over pronation plus it is also created to elevate the arch and realign one’s foot, allocating enough pressure on the foot to absorb shocks.

Prevents common heel injuries

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and this is usually felt along the foot’s heel portion. Generally, the condition is described as the inflammation of the fibrous tissues that can be found right at the bottom of one’s foot, from the heel to the toes. Plantar fasciitis can be an extremely painful issue and this is mainly caused by over pronation; and although this is the case, making use of a heel pad can help absorb any form of shock while simultaneously distributing even pressure throughout a person’s foot.

The Heel Pad

Aside from the Kendo Bogu, it is necessary for every Kendo practitioner to make use of a certain type of support to avoid unwanted injuries. This is why the kendo heel pad is an excellent type of support that is required when engaging in Kendo practice, especially when one has a certain pain on their heel. The heel pad provides adequate cushioning while it simultaneously protects a person from acquiring more injuries. This is the reason why it is highly suggested to purchase a Kendo heel pad for sale to properly cushion the heel while also supporting the arch of a Kendoka’s foot.