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Help for heel spurs
By Dr. Brandon Manson
As the weather improves and the days get longer, many of us make a beeline for the front door, eager to start enjoying our favorite outdoor activities. For up to 20 percent of us, however, heel pain stops us dead in our tracks.
About two thirds of people that experience heel pain have heel spurs. Heel spurs are characterized by heel pain, usually at the inside front portion of the heel, that increases with the first few steps in the morning, or starting to walk after extended sitting.
They develop as a result of repetitive, excessive stress on the plantar fascia, a very strong connective tissue that encapsulates certain muscles in the sole of the foot. The plantar fascia extends from the ball of the foot to the heel, acting as a bowstring. Repetitive stress causes inflammation, and eventual calcification, of the plantar fascia near its attachment to the heel. The result is a heel spur. Indeed, heel spurs are closely related to and considered to be a long-term consequence of plantar fasciitis.
Causes of Heel Spurs:
If you are female, overweight, over 30 years of age, had a desk job for years and recently started vigorous weight-bearing exercise like aerobics or jogging, you are at the highest risk for developing heel spurs. The most common causes of heel spurs include foot overpronation, a sudden change or increase in weight-bearing activity, tight or short calf muscles and being overweight (all these increase tension in the plantar fascia). Other common causes include shoes with poor mid-sole cushioning and inadequate flexibility under the ball of the foot, excessive weight-bearing (especially on hard surfaces), or conversely, desk jobs (which cause atrophy and stiffening of calf muscles).
Treatment for Heel Spur Pain:
Acute heel spur pain should be treated with rest from weight-bearing activity, frequent application of ice (several times daily for 15 to 20 minutes) and other anti-inflammatory measures. Two anti-inflammatory products that have been shown to be safe and effective are DMSO (apply twice daily directly to the skin of sore area, but do not use if allergic to sulphur) and Bromelain, from pineapple enzymes.
Once heel pain is no longer acute, treatment may include custom-fitted orthotics (with heel spur accommodation) to control overpronation and gait mechanics, regular exercising of foot and calf muscles (including before getting out of bed), losing weight, moist heat applied to plantar fascia in morning and well-cushioned and flexible shoes. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort.
To assist patients return to normal activity as quickly as possible, chiropractors also treat the muscle imbalances often associated with heel spurs. Your chiropractor may use a number of new forms of muscle/tendon/ligament therapy to help this and other soft tissue conditions. Essentially, these new techniques utilize neurological reflex mechanisms to “trick” the affected tissues into immediately relaxing, becoming instantaneously stronger and more flexible. Once the tissues are more responsive, the chiropractor can then guide the patient in specific exercises to further strengthen the arch and lower leg.
If you would like more information on heel spur treatment, call our office today.
Dr. Brandon Manson is a local chiropractor and, along with his wife, Dr. Keri Bunbury, own KB Chiropractic in Hudson and Kingston. Dr. Manson is originally from Germantown and has returned to provide health services to the community. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, and, now, as a leader in health care, welcomes any questions pertaining to wellness and preventative medicine. Contact information: e-mail KBchiropractic@verizon.net.
About two thirds of people that experience heel pain have heel spurs. Heel spurs are characterized by heel pain, usually at the inside front portion of the heel, that increases with the first few steps in the morning, or starting to walk after extended sitting.
They develop as a result of repetitive, excessive stress on the plantar fascia, a very strong connective tissue that encapsulates certain muscles in the sole of the foot. The plantar fascia extends from the ball of the foot to the heel, acting as a bowstring. Repetitive stress causes inflammation, and eventual calcification, of the plantar fascia near its attachment to the heel. The result is a heel spur. Indeed, heel spurs are closely related to and considered to be a long-term consequence of plantar fasciitis.
Causes of Heel Spurs:
If you are female, overweight, over 30 years of age, had a desk job for years and recently started vigorous weight-bearing exercise like aerobics or jogging, you are at the highest risk for developing heel spurs. The most common causes of heel spurs include foot overpronation, a sudden change or increase in weight-bearing activity, tight or short calf muscles and being overweight (all these increase tension in the plantar fascia). Other common causes include shoes with poor mid-sole cushioning and inadequate flexibility under the ball of the foot, excessive weight-bearing (especially on hard surfaces), or conversely, desk jobs (which cause atrophy and stiffening of calf muscles).
Treatment for Heel Spur Pain:
Acute heel spur pain should be treated with rest from weight-bearing activity, frequent application of ice (several times daily for 15 to 20 minutes) and other anti-inflammatory measures. Two anti-inflammatory products that have been shown to be safe and effective are DMSO (apply twice daily directly to the skin of sore area, but do not use if allergic to sulphur) and Bromelain, from pineapple enzymes.
Once heel pain is no longer acute, treatment may include custom-fitted orthotics (with heel spur accommodation) to control overpronation and gait mechanics, regular exercising of foot and calf muscles (including before getting out of bed), losing weight, moist heat applied to plantar fascia in morning and well-cushioned and flexible shoes. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort.
To assist patients return to normal activity as quickly as possible, chiropractors also treat the muscle imbalances often associated with heel spurs. Your chiropractor may use a number of new forms of muscle/tendon/ligament therapy to help this and other soft tissue conditions. Essentially, these new techniques utilize neurological reflex mechanisms to “trick” the affected tissues into immediately relaxing, becoming instantaneously stronger and more flexible. Once the tissues are more responsive, the chiropractor can then guide the patient in specific exercises to further strengthen the arch and lower leg.
If you would like more information on heel spur treatment, call our office today.
Dr. Brandon Manson is a local chiropractor and, along with his wife, Dr. Keri Bunbury, own KB Chiropractic in Hudson and Kingston. Dr. Manson is originally from Germantown and has returned to provide health services to the community. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, and, now, as a leader in health care, welcomes any questions pertaining to wellness and preventative medicine. Contact information: e-mail KBchiropractic@verizon.net.
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