Understanding Bone Spurs

What are Bone Spurs?

Bone spurs are one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of each foot and connects the heel bone to the toes, known as the plantar fascia.

What does it feel like?

People afflicted with Plantar Fasciitis commonly report a stabbing pain that often occurs with their first steps in the morning. As you get up and move, the pain normally decreases, but it might return after long periods of standing or when you stand up after sitting.

Some Symptoms of Bone Spurs include:

• Pain on the bottom of the foot near the heel.
• Pain with the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning, or after a long period of rest, such as after a long car ride.
• Greater pain after exercise or activity (not during)

Risk Factors:

• New or increased activity
• Repetitive high impact activities (running/sports/lifting)
• Prolonged standing on hard surfaces (especially among nurses, factory workers and teachers)
• Anatomy (flat feet or a high arch)
• Tight Calf Muscles
• Obesity

How Can Physiotherapy Help Manage Bone Spurs?

A common misconception that people have about bone spurs is that they have to be surgically removed, but that couldn’t be further from the truth as there are plenty of non-invasive methods of managing the symptoms of Bone Spurs such as various physiotherapeutic practices such as manual therapy, stretching exercises and therapeutic ultrasounds, including many more that might better fit your needs.

What to Expect?

Here at Perform Plus Physiotherapy, we have a team of certified physiotherapists that can help you form a plan that fits all your needs and goals, along with multiple treatment options that can help you manage symptoms of bone spurs.

You can also expect:

• A thorough assessment to identify the specific problem.
• A personalized exercise plan based on scientific evidence and your unique needs.
• Consistency with home exercises which are crucial for success.
• Improvement often happens within weeks, though full recovery can take longer for more complex cases.