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Heel spur – characterized by troublesome pain ailments located under the heel, which prevent or significantly limit standing and walking. It occurs more often in older people working in a standing position as a result of degenerative overload changes.
Heel spur – definition
In this ailment, pain first appears, which is very severe and felt only while walking. As ailments develop, pain also occurs while sitting, lying down or sleeping, which makes normal functioning impossible. Very often, the cause of this pain may be the heel spur, which results from chronic inflammation within the calcaneus. It occurs when calcium builds up on the heel. This ailment is a common affliction of people practicing sports, e.g. running, volleyball, tennis. It can also appear in the elderly, who often suffer from deformities of the feet for various reasons. The examination reveals pressure soreness under the medial side of the heel tumor, and X-rays show a pockmarked growth extending from the heel tumor to the front.
The causes of the heel spur
The heel spur is formed by inflammation where the heel bone meets the heel spur. It is a structure that is exposed to constant stretching and loosening with each step. Where does this type of inflammation actually come from? This is due to many factors:
- overweight (overload),
- injuries, e.g. an ankle or foot contusion that has not been fully healed,
- wearing ill-fitting shoes and high heels.
In overweight people, the longitudinal arch of the foot flattens, which in turn causes the calcaneal fascia to stretch even more. The resulting inflammation causes limestone deposits to accumulate at the site of the attachment, and then a growth called the heel spur forms on the heel bone.
Other factors that increase the risk of heel spur:
- flat feet,
- work that requires long standing,
- practicing sports that weigh down the feet,
- age (the older we are, the faster our bone and joint elements deteriorate).
Heel spur – symptoms
Heel pain is considered the primary symptom of a heel spur. It increases especially during walking and decreases with “spreading”. It may remain at the same level for a long time, and may occur rapidly, increase with each step, and persist even when lying down or sitting. To diagnose the heel spur, it is necessary to perform an X-ray examination, which reveals the presence of acute bone growths on the heel.
Heel spur – treatment
The most important thing is to consult a doctor who will confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Usually, this type of ailment is treated by an orthopedist. In the heel spur, inserts are used to relieve the painful area, physical treatment (ultrasound, short-wave diathermy, iontophoresis, cryotherapy, local kinesiotherapy, laser treatments), and injections of the painful area with steroids with lignocaine, which are an alternative to physiotherapy treatments. If there are persistent discomfort, X-ray irradiation is recommended. Foot massages also help with bothersome pains.
When treating a heel spur, it is important to restrict movement so as not to put too much stress on the foot. You can independently perform gentle stretching or exercises recommended by a physiotherapist. In extreme cases, it is necessary to implement surgical treatment aimed at removing the calcification that forms the growth. However, there is no one hundred percent guarantee that the heel spur will not come back. Moreover, the wound after surgery is difficult to heal.
Exercises
They should be an integral part of the therapy of the heel spur. They work well because they significantly reduce pain and at the same time are not very complicated, so everyone can do them at home without the help of a physiotherapist. Before you start exercising, however, remember that:
- they should not be painful;
- it is best to do them in the morning when the feet are still rested;
- do not exercise on tired feet;
- the intensity of exercises should be adjusted to the patient’s abilities.
Sample exercises:
- massaging the heel with a ball – immediately after waking up, before getting out of bed, sit on its edge and place your feet on the floor. Then, for example, put a tennis ball under the sore foot and move it from heel to toe;
- calf stretching – stand in front of the wall and then lean against it with straightened arms; place one leg in the front, slightly bending it in the knee, and move the other leg backwards straightening it at the knee; bend the front leg until you feel a stretch in the back leg;
- stretching of the plantar fascia – it is especially important after waking up, because during sleep the tendon contracts and is less flexible, which causes pain when getting out of bed and walking quickly. Using a towel or hand, gently bend your toes towards your body and keep them in this position for 10 seconds; at the same time, with the thumb of the other hand, you can massage the painful metatarsus.
How to prevent heel spur?
In preventing heel spurs, it is important to have the right footwear. In addition, special insoles should be worn and stretching exercises should be performed systematically.
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