Foot Problems With Heel Spurs

Pain related to heel spurs, known as plantar fasciitis, affects 10 percent of the U.S. population, according to a study by the University of Virginia School of Medicine published in American Family Physician. Heel spurs affect adults of all ages and fitness levels, including active and sedentary. They account for 600,000 outpatient visits annually, according to the study. Pain often occurs when the person first gets up in the morning or after being inactive for a while.

What are Heel Spurs?

• Heel spurs are bony protuberances that occur when calcium deposits build up on the bottom of the heel. The bony spur may or may not irritate the ligaments in the bottom of the foot, which are called the plantar fascia.

What Causes Heel Spurs?

• Heel spurs occur when the plantar fascia pull away from the heel. They can occur because of injury due to repetitive stress, arthritis, age, being overweight, or having high arches, flat feet, tight calf muscles or poorly fitting shoes. The precise cause of heel spurs and irritation of the plantar fascia, also known as plantar fasciitis, is not known.

Do Heel Spurs Really Cause Pain?

• Doctors thought at one time that heel spurs caused irritation of the plantar fascia, or plantar fasciitis, but a study done by doctors at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia, show that plantar fasciitis can occur with or without heel spurs. Likewise, you may have heel spurs and never experience pain. As a result, many doctors, including those who performed the study, believe that heel spurs are simply a byproduct of plantar fasciitis. However, some doctors and holistic practitioners disagree and believe heel spurs do indeed cause pain.

Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis

• Surgery is not usually necessary for heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. Most physicians prescribe cushioning heel shoe inserts and night splints that keep the foot in a dorsi-flexed position while the person sleeps. Exercises to stretch the calf and Achilles tendon can help relieve plantar fasciitis.

  Physicians may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and aspirin to help reduce pain and inflammation. Ice therapy may also help relieve the pain.

  Physical therapy may be of some value for those suffering from plantar fasciitis. Physical therapy may include exercises to stretch out the calf muscle or different types of shock wave treatments to relax the plantar fascia.

How to Prevent Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis

• You can do several different things to prevent heel pain due to plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Maintain a proper weight, wear good supportive shoes with heel cushions, don't walk barefoot and wear cushioning shoes with high-impact exercises (such as aerobics or jogging). Mixing low-impact exercises with high-impact exercises can help reduce the chance of getting heel spurs.