Have you recently been told that you may have heel spurs? Does someone that you care for or love have what you believe to be heel spurs? This is a condition where there is an outcrop of bone at the base of the heel. This is also called calcaneus. Heel spurs don’t actually cause pain themselves. They are associated with the pain, however, of plantar fasciitis which is put simply pain under the heel. Even though we have been led to believe for a long time that those that have plantar fasciitis suffered from heel spurs as well, this simply is not completely true. A person is able to have heel spurs and not have plantar fasciitis and vice versa.

Firstly let’s look at what the plantar fascia actually is. This is the region of soft tissue just below the heel. This tissue runs up along the heel to the ball of the foot. Held together with tight skin, the plantar fascia is made up of fatty material compartments.

When trauma occurs to the plantar fascia it can respond by becoming sore and inflamed.Sometimes repeated activities will result in this occurring. Activities such as running or jumping can result in the inflammation and swelling. Sometimes this can be the result from a one-time event happening; traumas due to a fall from a significant height or jarring the foot after a fall. Should you be overweight the risk of heel spurs is increased due to the extra pressure on the foot. Increasing exercises suddenly can also result in added pressure to the heel.

Should you or someone close to you be experiencing heel spurs and the pain that comes from the soft tissue damage surrounding this area, then seeking the appropriate advice is recommended. Consulting with an orthopedic doctor is the optimal choice in alleviating the pain caused by this painful condition.