Symptoms of Heel Spur
There are various ways to identify heel spurs, including:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Swelling in the front of your heel
You may also notice that the affected area feels warm. These symptoms can spread to the arch of your foot. Eventually, you may see a small bony protrusion.
In some cases you may not notice any symptoms. You may also not see any changes in soft tissues or bones surrounding the heel. Heel spurs are usually discovered through X-rays [2] and other tests done for other foot issues.
Causes of Heel Spurs
Heel spurs are most commonly caused by long term strain in the muscle and ligament. Eventually, this excessive strain stresses the heel bone (calcaneus) causing spurs.
Heel spurs do not suddenly appear after a workout or sports activity, instead they develop over time. Heel spurs tend to occur when you ignore early signs like heel pain.
Common causes of heel spurs include repetitive stress from walking, running or jumping on hard surfaces. They may also develop from wearing footwear that doesn’t support your foot.
Other causes of heel spurs include:
- Bruising of the heel
- Arthritis [3]
- Poorly fitted shoes
- Excess body weight
- Wearing flip-flop too often
- Walking gait issues
- Worn-out shoes
Many people who have heel spurs also have plantar fasciitis. This painful condition affects the tough, fibrous tissues that run between your heel and toes. Having plantar fasciitis increases your risk of developing her spurs.