What is a Heel Spur?
A heel spur is a bony growth usually found under the heel. A heel spur can cause extreme heel pain while walking, standing or with a sudden action such as a jump. When you place your weight on your heel, the pain from a heel spur can be debilitating, as the heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot and plays a big part in absorbing shock and pressure.
How Does a Heel Spur Form?
The plantar fascia is a fibrous band that acts as a support platform for the arch. It runs from the heel to the ball-of-the-foot. When foot alignment is poor, this tissue often pulls away from the heel bone causing micro-tears. When this happens, calcium deposits form and cause a nail-like growth to grow. This heel spur develops from the bone and pushes into the fleshy area of the foot.
Individuals who have high arches or flat feet are more prone to developing a heel spur. This is due to the overpronation or oversupination that often occurs due to the poor biomechanics and alignment associated with these conditions. Women are also more likely than men to develop a heel spur due to the type of footwear they wear.
How Can I Treat A Heel Spur?
Temporary treatment for relief of pain from a heel spur may include elevating the foot, rest, and applying ice to reduce inflammation. These treatments however are only temporary.
If either flat feet or high arches are causing your heel spur, your doctor may prescribe foot orthotics or arch supports. Foot orthotics (arch supports) help to distribute your weight more evenly upon impact and may cushion your heel to help reduce the pain you are experiencing. Heel spur pads can be added to orthotic insoles (arch supports) to take pressure away from the heel spur as well.
For added relief from a heel spur, heel cradles or heel cups may be used. Your doctor may recommend shedding any extra pounds you are carrying and choosing appropriate footwear. When searching for shoes, make sure you select a pair that has a cushioned sole to help absorb shock, but is stable enough to be supportive and help control foot alignment.
If these methods do not provide relief, an injection of cortisone can help decrease the inflammation of the plantar fascia, or surgery to remove the heel spur is sometimes performed.. However, many problems can occur with these methods, so they are used as a last resort. More conservative methods like the use of foot orthotics are usually the treatment of choice.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has also been introduced to induce microtrauma to the tissue around the heel spur. This is done hoping to create a tissue repair process by the body itself.
With the more aggressive forms of heel spur treatment like surgery, it is very important that any biomechanical problems that may cause the heel spur to return are taken care of with the use of foot orthotics.
To see our recommended lines of foot orthotics, Click Here: Arch Supports
|
