How Plantar Fasciitis Could Be Causing Your Heel Spurs
Plantar Fascia Inflammation: The Cause of Heel Bone Spurs
Heel spurs are calcified tissue near the heel where the tendons in the foot attach. The main heel spur symptoms are sharp pain in the heel when stretching the foot and aching in the foot that does not go away. These calcified tissues can protrude into the swollen tissue in the foot and cause pain. At first, the pain can be very sharp and will be present upon standing. After a while the pain can decrease and become more of a slight annoyance, 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 known as plantar fasciitis.
What Causes Heel Bone Spurs
The main cause of heel bone 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, causing plantar fasciitis. Factors that can lead to this condition include abnormal stress, excessive weight, age or poor foot function. When the tissue becomes more rigid, it is torn over and over by the repeated use of the foot. As the tissue becomes inflamed, it results in heel bone spurs.
Diagnosis and Treatments for Heel Bone Spurs
To properly diagnose this condition you need a foot x-ray. With an x-ray, your doctor can confirm that a heel spur has developed. You can treat this condition by simply elevating your foot or consider more extreme measures like foot surgery. By applying mild heat to the area you can lessen the inflammation. By increasing the circulation, the blood vessels dilate and the pain lessens. Many people notice that simply wearing arch support insoles can provide significant relief. These devices provide additional arch support and can help correct over-pronation. By reducing the stress on the Plantar Fascia, the tissues in the foot are allowed to heal properly. Many orthotic insoles come with additional heel pads that act as shock absorbers for the heel which help to immediately relieve the discomfort. Also, physical therapy treatments such as diathermy can lessen inflammation. This process utilizes an electrical current to produce heat that will ease plantar fasciitis.
Easy Ways to Avoid Heel Bone Spurs
One way to help prevent heel spurs is stretch the foot and calf before strenuous exercise. By stretching these tissues, you allow them to become more and more flexible which reduces the likelihood of plantar fasciitis. It is also critical to wear shoes that fit properly and provide ample arch support and cushioning to the foot. Adding arch support insoles to any shoe can help alleviate strain on the Plantar Fascia that could cause heel bone spurs. Paying attention to our feet is a very important step in staying healthy. Healthy feet are a vital component to our well-being.
