Heel Spur and Plantar Fasciitis - An Introduction
As we all know it has always been advised to wear supportive or proper fitting shoes. But do you know why? Have you ever thought about what happens if we wear unsupportive or improperly fitting shoes? Well, this may lead to various conditions such as heel spur or plantar fasciitis. Do you know what these conditions are? Let's learn about heel spur and plantar fasciitis in this article.
What is a Spur?
A spur is a condition in which there is a bony outgrowth on the bottom of a person's foot. In this condition, calcium deposits between the heel and arch of the foot. The spur may be deposited in the plantar part known as the plantar spur and cause plantar pain.
Heel Spur in The Foot
Heel Spur Symptoms
The following are a few common symptoms of heel spur.
Inflammation and swelling may be there in the front part of the heel.
Sharp pain in the heel when standing up.
Heat radiating from the injured area.
Point of tenderness at the bottom of the heel.
Difficulty in walking.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is made of two words: plantar and fasciitis. Plantar is for the foot and fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia (muscle). Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which there is degeneration or inflammation of the band of tissues at the bottom of the foot running from the heel to the toes. It is also called the policeman's heel.
Plantar Fasciitis in The Foot
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Given below are some commonly identified symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
An inflamed heel
Tight Achilles tendon (Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle).
Pain increases after the exercise.
Pain on the bottom part of the heel.
Heel pain may be for months.
Pain is worse when standing after a long time of sitting.
Pain may be getting worse in the morning.
Causes of Heel Spur and Plantar Fasciitis
There are many causes of the heel spur and plantar fasciitis. Some of the causes are given below.
Obese people have a high risk
High arched or flat feet
Standing for a prolonged period
Exercise on a hard surface
Exercise without stretching the calf muscle
Athletes have a high risk of developing these types of disease
Wearing poorly fitted or badly with shoes
Diabetic person
Treatment of Heel Spur and Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar calcaneal spur treatment includes:
Stretching exercise
Physical therapy
Orthopaedic device
Night splints
Applying ice can prevent or reduce inflammation and pain
Pain medication such as ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.
Surgeries include the removal of fascia or removal of a spur
The treatment for plantar fasciitis is the same as a heel spur.
Difference between Heel Spur and Plantar Fasciitis
Important Questions
Q1. What aggravates heel spur?
Ans: Various factors can aggravate heel spur such as jumping on a hard surface, wearing unsupportive shoes, and repetitive stress from walking or running.
Q2. How to treat a heel spur?
Ans: Anti Inflammatory medications, exercise, orthopaedic devices, and cortisone injections can help treat a heel spur.
Q3. What can dissolve the bone spur?
Ans: Tenex is a technology that can dissolve some of the small and medium-sized bone spurs.
Q4. What is a heel?
Ans: The heel is the back part of the human feet. It is part of the feet below the ankle.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed what heel spur and plantar fasciitis are as well as their symptoms and treatments. A heel spur is calcium deposition in the heel bone, whereas plantar fasciitis is a degenerative condition of the fascia of the bottom of the foot. Symptoms include heel pain or pain in the bottom of the foot and swelling. These are curable with medicine in most conditions but may require surgery in severe cases.
Practice Questions
Q1. What is the Achilles tendon?
Q2. Is walking good for the heel spur?
Q3. Write the main causes of plantar fasciitis.
Q4. Which vitamin is good for heel spur?
FAQs on Difference Between Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis
1. What are the risk factors for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis?
There are various things or conditions that increase the risk factors of a heel spur, such as follows:
Hard Surface Activities - Doing activities on hard surfaces may cause a heel spur
Trauma to the Heel - tearing of membrane of the cover heel
Older Age - also increases the risk of a heel spur. Age between 40-70 has more chances of getting these diseases.
Overweight obesity
Improper footwear can also be the cause of heel spur
Have an inward pronation
Pregnant women
Tight Achilles tendon
Wearing shoes with thin soles
2. How to treat bone spur naturally?
Naturally, we can treat bone spurs in various ways:
Stretching - stretching exercises reduce pressure and strain on the heel bone or toe bone. Stretching exercises include- foot flex, wall squat, wall calf stretch, etc
Footwear - Wearing footwear that is cushioned, allows movement, and is flexible is also a good way to remove the heel spur. Custom orthopaedics also provides support and cushion to our feet which can alleviate bone spurs or also prevent the bone spur in the heel and toe.
Ice pack
Vitamin and supplements
Massage therapy
3 How to diagnose heel spur and plantar fasciitis?
There are various methods of diagnosis of the heel spur and plantar fasciitis. Some are discussed below.
Physical Examination - Complete physical and medical examination is necessary to diagnose heel spur and plantar fasciitis.
Medical History - Previous or past medical history
Images Test - X-ray and MRI are imaging tests. In x-ray testing, X-ray images are used; x-rays are used and images of bones are taken. In MRI, magnetic fields are used and then images are taken.
