Common Causes And Risk Factors Of A Heel Spur

A heel spur occurs when a calcium deposit leads to a bony protrusion underneath the heel bone, and they can extend up to a half-inch in length. If there isn't a visible heel spur on the X-ray, doctors may diagnose it as 'heel spur syndrome.' A syndrome is a collection of symptoms without a defined cause. Heel spur syndrome has all the same symptoms as a heel spur, but it lacks the physical evidence that comes with an X-ray. There is a variety of heel spur treatments, though the best one for a patient depends on the severity and duration of symptoms.

Foot Muscle And Ligament Strains

It's common for foot muscle and ligament strains to be responsible for the calcium deposits, which we know result in heel spurs when they build up over months. Athletes who do a lot of jumping and running are more likely to develop heel spurs. Strains occur when a tendon or muscle becomes stretched or torn, causing pain and possible inflammation. The location of the pain depends on the location of the injury. Severity can vary widely, and a badly torn muscle or tendon will cause more severe pain than a mildly stretched one.

Sprains occur when a ligament becomes stretched or torn. The most common type of sprain is an ankle sprain, which occurs when the ligaments throughout the ankle become injured. It's important to note the same types of injuries can cause both sprains and broken ankles. Because of this, if individuals think they've sprained an ankle, they should see a doctor to rule out broken bones. The best way to care for a strain is by resting the affected part of the body.

Stretching The Plantar Fascia

Stretching the plantar fascia can cause a heel spur to develop, especially if the stretch causes injury. If the plantar fascia becomes inflamed, an individual's likelihood of developing heel spurs becomes much higher. With that said, if an individual already has plantar fasciitis, there are stretches they can do to help relieve pain and inflammation. Patients concerned about their pain should consult a doctor to make sure there isn't a more serious underlying cause. It also helps to double-check exercises and stretches with a doctor.

Everyone has different physical makeups and health conditions, so the stretches that help one person might harm another. Stretching the calves can help relieve plantar fasciitis pain. To try this, individuals should stand at arm's length from the wall and press their hands against the wall. They should then move one foot behind the other, then gently bend their legs until they feel a stretch. They must switch the leg in front to stretch both legs. Individuals can also sit on a chair and move their foot back and forth over a foam roller, which stretches their plantar fascia.

Tearing The Membrane Covering The Heel Bone

The heel bone is covered by a protective membrane. While tearing through the membrane once usually isn't enough to cause a heel spur, since heel spurs develop slowly over multiple months, if individuals repeatedly suffer injuries to this membrane, they're more likely to develop a heel spur. There are twenty-six total bones in the foot, and the heel bone is the largest.

The foot also has thirty-three joints and over one hundred ligaments, muscles, and tendons. When individuals tear away the lining that protects the heel, they open it to calcium deposits that can develop into a heel spur. If individuals also have repeated muscle strains or ligament sprains alongside the lining tears, they're even more likely to develop a heel spur.

Poorly Fitting Shoes

Poorly fitting shoes are a major factor in heel spurs. Improper footwear can cause the types of foot injury that lead to unchecked calcium deposits. Wearing improper footwear once or twice won't generally pose a problem, but badly-fitting shoes can cause heel spurs to develop over months. Proper footwear is imperative, especially if individuals exercise a lot or are on their feet all day. Athletes, manual laborers, food service workers, and retail workers should all prioritize supportive footwear.

Good shoes provide both arch support and heel cushioning, which helps prevent injury from high impacts, so it's very important for runners and individuals who partake in high-impact exercise. Arch support cushions the arch of the foot. The right arch support can prevent gait abnormalities like overpronating and under pronating. Overpronation occurs when an individual's foot rolls too far outward with each stride. This distributes weight unevenly and increases their chances of injury.

Gait Abnormalities

There are a variety of gait abnormalities that can cause heel spurs to develop. Oftentimes, individuals learning they have a gait abnormality is half the battle. Physical therapy and specialized footwear can often help to correct gait abnormalities. As individuals walk, there's a certain way of moving their feet and distributing their weight that reduces strain on their feet. Those who have an abnormal gait could be placing more stress on their heel bone, the nerves around the heel, and the ligaments throughout their feet.

Even if individuals haven't developed a heel spur, the increased stress on their nerves can cause intense heel pain. Eight types of gait abnormalities can be caused by neurological issues. A neuropathic gait occurs when nerve damage causes individuals not to lift their feet entirely off the ground as they walk. A Parkinsonian gait occurs when the legs are unusually rigid and the steps are small.