Preventable foot ailments part 4: Heel Spurs

Researching different types of foot pain has not always been fun, but it has been informative. I continue to hope I have been able to answer at least a few questions that are out there about different kinds of foot pain. To continue on with this thought here is my next installment which actually ties into my last blog about Plantar Fasciitis. If you haven’t read it this would be a good time to go down a couple of blogs and read more. Don’t worry we will wait for you….

…ok all caught up? Good. Heel Spurs, that’s right the topic (as you know from the title) is heel spurs. A heel spur is a bony growth on the underside of the heel bone. Whats great about heel spurs is they are visible by x-ray (okay maybe not great but morbidly fascinating). They look like a protrusion that can extend forward as much as half an inch, Yes you heard correctly. HALF AN INCH! Wonderful right?

So how are heel spurs created? They are created from a strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, and by repeated tearing away of the lining or membrane that covers the heel bone (plantar fascia). The activities or conditions that may cause heel spurs are a biomechanical imbalance, running or jogging, improperly fitted or excessively worn shoes, and even obesity. Hell spurs are also linked to plantar facsiitis (now we see the connection right?)

If you have a heel spur knowing how it happened may be interesting to you, but what you probably want to know is how do I get rid of it? With like most foot problems there are many options for dealing with and reducing the pain of heel spurs. You can start with elevating your foot or adding heat to where the pain is to help dilate local blood vessels reducing pain. You can wear inserts or heel cups to help cushion your heel as you walk. Your doctor can recommend the proper treatment for you.

Since I have been doing these blogs I have become more aware of how important good footwear is, and I know that I don’t want a heel spur (or anything else I have written about or will be writing about), but I do like to move so sitting in one place is not an option for me. So I had to ask the obvious question how do I prevent getting heel spurs. And the answer really didn’t surprise me. Get proper fitting footwear. That’s it. Simple isn’t it?

If you have additional questions about heel spurs there is plenty of information on the web. Here are a few sites that helped me out: http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/224/main.html#TreatmentofHeelSpurs http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/224/main.html http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/generalinfo2/a/heelspur_2.html

As always visit Takkens.com or one of our retail store locations for all your comfort shoe needs.

If you would like to read my other posts about foot problems and their solutions please click on the links below:

Bunions
Hammer toe
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel Spurs
Flat foot
Calluses, Corns, and warts
Gout