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Heel spurs
What Is a Heel Spur?
A heel spur is like a warning sign indicating overload of the plantar plate. If, however, the plantar plate is inflamed, it is called plantar fasciitis, meaning inflammation of the plantar tendon.
Types of Heel Spur
There are two types of painful heel spurs:
- A plantar heel spur, located on the side of the sole, is the far more common variety. The spur, or bony process, grows on the plantar plate and points towards the toes.
- The less common dorsal or cranial heel spur is located on the back of the heel bone. In this type, a bony spur can be seen at the attachment point of the Achilles tendon. The symptoms are caused by inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
On average, 10% of the population is affected by heel spurs and their painful symptoms, with women being affected more often than men.
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Suitable Household Remedies for Treating Heel Spurs?
Even if it is not possible to treat the causes of the painful heel spur yourself, there are at least ways to reduce the pain. Ice cubes and gel cooling pads, for example, can be used as simple household remedies to relieve pain. Ointments containing the appropriate active ingredients can also reduce inflammation and therefore pain.
Heel Spur Treatment: Conservative Therapy Approaches
Orthopedic specialists or other medical professionals usually begin with conservative heel spur treatment. For example, pressure on the plantar plate can be relieved in the long term by using padded insoles for shoes, such as passive insoles with soft silicone cushioning. Pressure on the feet is further reduced by losing weight. Recreational athletes should wear suitable shoes that are well-cushioned and comfortable. Physical therapy can stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons in the sole of the foot, thereby also relieving excessive strain.
Other therapy options include:
- Shock wave therapy
- Kinesiology tape
With heel spur treatment, it can sometimes take many weeks before sufficient improvement occurs. To support conservative therapy, ACP therapy can be used to regenerate the injured plantar plate without side effects.
Heel Spur Treatment: Surgery
Surgical heel spur treatment can be considered as a last resort. Surgery on the sole of the foot is only of limited value, as patients do not always experience improvement after. In this procedure, part of the plantar plate is notched to minimize the forces acting on the tendons.
