Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part A (2025)

Heel pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal complaint among working professionals who spend extended periods standing or walking during their occupational duties. The role of footwear characteristics particularly sole stiffness and cushioning in influencing heel‑region discomfort remains underexplored. Evidence indicates that footwear features such as sole hardness, thickness, and insole cushioning affect plantar pressure distribution and may exacerbate or mitigate heel‑pain risk. For example, an increase in midsole hardness has been shown to raise peak plantar pressure and peak stress on the plantar fascia during gait, which is implicated in heel pain and conditions like plantar fasciitis. Similarly, insufficient cushioning or hard‑sole footwear in industrial workers is associated with higher prevalence of heel and foot symptoms. In occupational settings, footwear is often selected for durability or safety rather than ergonomic foot health, raising the question whether soft‑sole versus hard‑sole footwear may differ in their impact on heel pain among working professionals. This research therefore addresses the gap in empirical evidence regarding how sole material and stiffness moderate heel‑pain outcomes in adult professionals. The objectives of the investigation are:

1. To compare incidence and severity of heel pain among working professionals using soft‑sole footwear versus those using hard‑sole footwear;
2. To examine the relationship between sole type and heel‑pain severity after controlling for confounding factors such as standing duration, body mass index, and foot posture; and
3. To determine whether soft‑sole footwear is associated with lower plantar heel‑region loading during occupational standing and walking tasks.

The research tests the primary hypothesis that working professionals wearing soft‑sole footwear report significantly lower heel‑pain severity and incidence compared to those wearing hard‑sole footwear. A secondary hypothesis posits that lower plantar heel loading and improved cushioning characteristics of soft‑sole footwear mediate the reduced heel‑pain outcomes in that group.