Effective treatment of your heel spur complaints

Pain felt under the heel may indicate a 'heel spur' (Plantar Fasciitis). The pain complaints are mainly manifested when straining after rest (for example when getting up after sitting for a while) or during direct strain on the foot, such as while walking.

Causes of heel spurs

The cause of heel spurs can often be traced back to one (or more) of the following points:

• An abnormal walking pattern or changed/'wrong' position of the feet;
• Excessive strain, for example through sports;
• Using shoes that do not provide sufficient support;
• Overload related to work (for example in standing professions), possibly in combination with being overweight.

Heel spurs are caused by a bone protrusion under the heel bone. Under the heel bone there is a tendon plate that runs under the entire foot. Overloading the foot can cause cracks or irritations in this tendon plate. When the body produces extra bone to strengthen the connection between the heel bone and the tendon plate, it is called a heel spur.

Complaints of heel spurs

Pain can occur when the bone protrusion presses against surrounding tissue in the foot when loaded. The pain can also arise from irritation or inflammation of the tendon plate. In the latter case this is referred to as a 'tendonitis'. Examples of physiotherapeutic treatments for heel spurs include: dry needling, easy taping, podiatry, exercise therapy/rehabilitation or (top) sports treatment.