Heel Spurs – A side effect of Plantar Fasciitis?

Do you have pain in the arch of your foot when you first put your foot down to walk in the morning?

You may well be suffering from a condition called plantar fasciitis (‘plantar fasciopathy’). The plantar fascia is designed to provide shock absorption for the arch of the foot and if overused, can become painful and interfere with daily and recreational activities.

A ‘heel spur’ is a bony growth that forms on the heel as a result from prolonged or excessive pulling of the plantar fascia from its attachment on the bone. Activities such as prolonged walking, running and dancing are the common causes.

A heel spur may or may not be present with plantar fasciopathy, therefore, an X-ray is not needed when determining a diagnosis. In addition, a heel spur may even worsen on X-ray once symptoms have completely resolved.

The take home message… If you have been told you have a heel spur, or a heel spur is present on an X-ray, don’t stress, it may not mean anything! It’s best to go and get your condition properly assessed from a physio.