What Causes Heel Spurs?

A heel spur is composed of calcite deposits on your heel that forms in response to rubbing and pressure. While they are not always painful, they can interfere with normal shoe wearing and soft-backed shoes or sandals may have to be worn to avoid rubbing and blisters.

Some of the causes and risk factors for developing heel spurs include:

• Wearing tight-fitting shoes—Footwear such as high heeled shoes cause excessive pressure and rubbing on the heel area and are very bad for your feet in general.

• Participating in high-stress activities—Sports and exercises that involve a lot of jumping and running put extra pressure on the heel. Being on your feet all day for work is also a risk factor.

• Being overweight—Carrying extra pounds around increases the pressure on the heel bones and may contribute to spur formation.

Treatment for heel spurs includes the following:

Often small heel spurs do not require any treatment unless they become bothersome. A variety of therapies including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and massage therapy can be effective. Custom orthotic inserts can help correct abnormalities that contribute to the formation of heel spurs.

If the spur causes pain and difficulty when you wear shoes, surgery may be needed to reduce the size of the growth.

If you have a bony protrusion on your heel, we highly recommend that you consult our board- certified podiatrists Andrew Shapiro, DPM, and Michael Barkin, DPM. With access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, we can assist you with heel pain, ankle sprains, diabetic foot care, toe deformities, nail fungus, and skin problems, among many other conditions. Our practice is conveniently located on West Merrick Road in Valley Stream to accommodate all of your foot care needs. Call (516) 825-3860 or book an appointment online today!