Plantar Fasciitis May Be Causing Your Heel Spurs

What are Heel Spurs?

Heel spurs are hardened tissue growth at the heel where it connects to the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the arch of the foot.  The main heel spur symptoms are intense pain in the heel when stretching the foot and constant throbbing. These calcified tissues can poke at the soft inflamed tissue in the foot, causing discomfort. At first, the pain can be very sharp and is usually most noticeable upon standing. As time passes, the sharp pain will become a dull aching feeling, but this can become a permanent cause for annoyance for the patient.  Heel spurs cause pain by poking at flesh that has become very irritated and inflamed, a condition called plantar fasciitis.

Plantar Fasciitis: A Common Cause of Heel Spurs

The main cause of heel spurs is when the Plantar Fascia, the thick connective tissue that attaches the toes to the heel, becomes inflamed. This unnatural pressure on the heel causes calcification of the soft tissue in the foot, creating plantar fasciitis.  One of the main factors that can lead to this condition is over-pronation, a biomechanical imbalance that causes our feet to roll inwards excessively. Other factors that can lead to this condition include abnormal stress, excessive weight, age or poor foot function. When the tissue becomes tight, it is torn over and over by the repeated use of the foot. As the tissue becomes inflamed, it results in heel spurs.

How to Diagnose and Treat Heel Spurs

To properly diagnose this condition you need a foot x-ray. With an x-ray, your doctor can validate that a heel spur has developed. You can treat this condition by simply elevating your foot or consider more extreme measures like foot surgery.  Many people are able to lessen inflammation by applying gentle heat to the heel. This alleviates the pain by dilating the blood vessels in the foot and increasing blood circulation. Many people notice that simply wearing orthotics can provide help. These are designed to correct over-pronation and add support to the arches of the foot. By removing the strain on the Plantar Fascia, the tissues in the foot can heal correctly. Many orthotics come with additional heel pads that act as shock absorbers for the heel which help to immediately relieve the pain. Also, physical therapy treatments such as diathermy can lessen inflammation. This process makes use of an electrical current to produce heat that will ease plantar fascitis.

Orthotics Can Prevent to Heel Spurs

A way to avoid heel spurs is stretch the foot and calf before strenuous exercise. By stretching these tissues, you create more flexibility which lessens the likelihood of plantar fascitis.  It is also essential to wear shoes that fit properly and provide ample arch support and cushioning to the foot.  Adding orthotics to any shoe can help alleviate strain on the Plantar Fascia that could cause heel spurs. Being mindful of our feet is a very important step in staying healthy; they are a vital component to our long-term health.

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