Heel Spur Facts

The bone that makes up the heel is the largest bone in the foot. Because of this it absorbs a tremendous amount of shock and pressure. This sometimes leads to a condition known as a heel spur. Being overweight, wearing ill-fitting shoes, gout and arthritis are among the factors that may lead to heel spurs.

Causes

• A heel spur develops when calcium deposits form when the plantar fascia--a band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot--pulls away from the heel. This is most common in people who have flat feet, but also occurs in people with high arches. Women are more likely to develop heel spurs than men because of the shoes they often wear.

Symptoms

• A heel spur can cause great pain in the heel area. Most patients say they experience pain with the first steps taken each morning, and then the pain tapers off with activity. However, the pain is often especially pronounced after extended periods of standing or walking. The pain is actually produced by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The heel forms a bony protrusion protecting against the constant abnormal pulling of the plantar fascia.

Treatment

• If you think you have a heel spur and you visit your physician, he is likely to do x-rays of the heel as well as analyze your gait. The cause of the heel spur must be determined in order to treat the condition. Various orthopedic shoes, stretching exercises, rest and weight loss are often prescribed to treat the condition. Taping, ice therapy and arch support are also used to treat heel spurs. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications may also help ease the pain. In cases where pain still persists, surgery is often used.

Surgery

• One type of surgery used in treating heel spurs is called endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. This procedure involves the surgeon making two slits around the heels and cutting the plantar fascia from the heel bone. This allows new fascia tissue to develop. In some procedures only the ligament is detached from the heel bone. During surgery the heel spur may be removed, which reduces pain because the tissue around the heel is no longer being damaged.

Prevention

• If you have had a heel spur or if you just want to take steps to prevent getting one, the best method you can use is to wear shoes that fit well. Stretching, especially first thing in the morning and before exercise, can also help to protect the plantar fascia from damage. It's also important to maintain, or work to achieve, a healthy weight. Being overweight seems to be a primary factor in those who develop this condition.