Are Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis connected, in most yes! As the plantar fasciitis is the start of a heel spur and its development. However a heel spur is a bony projection from the back or bottom of the heel bone and can occur with no pain in up to 40% of adults (Michelsson et al. 2005). The focus is on heel spurs that occur at the base of the foot where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone.
A heel spur is a calcium deposit causing a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. On an X-ray, a heel spur can extend forward by as much as a half-inch although this is less common. An X Ray is needed to confirm a heel spur and its often linked to plantar Fasciitis although if the fascia is directly affected by the heel spur pain tends to be at its highest in the evening after been on your feet all day, rather than very painful first thing in the morning.
Inflammation and tearing or damage to the plantar fascia results in pain in the heel this can lead to a heel spur if untreated as the spur is linked to the connection of the fibrous fascia connection in the heel bone.
So why does the body develop heel spurs because of Plantar Fasciitis?
As your plantar fascia stiffens due to trauma or repeated stress it increases the force in the attachment point in the heel. To cope with the increased stress due to a weakened plantar fascia the bone remodels itself. The bone does this with an increase of calcium deposits on the heel bone, this process usually occurs over many months. These can be more aggressive and common among people who train at a high intensity with activities that include a large amount of running and jumping.
Heel spurs occur when calcium deposits build up on the underside of the heel bone, a process that usually occurs over a period of many months. Heel spurs are often caused by strains on foot muscles and ligaments, stretching of the plantar fascia, and repeated tearing of the membrane that covers the heel bone. Heel spurs are especially common among athletes whose activities include large amounts of running and jumping.
The reason for the development of the heel spur is to prevent the plantar fascia bending as much thus reducing strain. The size of the spur can complicate the pain further by compressing the lateral plantar nerve. The pain in this instance is usually described as burning pain associated with nerve compression and can actually cause muscle wasting of the supporting muscles of the foot (Chundru et al. 2008).
This can lead to a downward spiral where the muscles weaken and provide less stability to the foot putting more pressure on the fascia and increasing pain and further reduced mobility. The size of the spur links to the pain and severity of the plantar fasciitis and is only operated on in extreme cases when other non invasive approaches have not reduced the plantar fasciitis.
To reduce the heel spur you must reduce the plantar fasciitis!
To reduce plantar fasciitis you need to look at your mechanics of movement and follow a plan and process of rehabilitation. I have treated well over a 100 patients over the last 9 months with varying degrees of plantar fasciitis and heel spur development. I have a 93% success rate in reducing pain and improving mobility and getting your life back to normal and beyond with my 5 step process.
If you would like to know more about how I treat plantar fasciitis please call Stephen on 01789 228123 for a conversation or use the messenger icon. Alternatively you can book a conversation HERE
