16 Dec What is the difference between Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis?

What is the difference between Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis?

I have treated many patients for heel pain caused by heel spurs and plantar fasciitis at Alternative Foot Solutions. Both conditions can be extremely painful but the good news is that they can be treated very effectively with long-lasting results. Many people, though, are confused about the two heel pain conditions.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis concerns the inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the tissue that forms the arch of the foot. Micro tears form along the plantar fascia and cause bleeding. Most people feel the pain around the inside of their heel or through the arch in their foot and it’s often worse in the morning or after a period of rest.

What is a heel spur?

A heel spur is protruding piece of bone shaped like a hook or spur that forms on the heel bone. This condition is often associated with plantar fasciitis.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis and heel spurs

These two heel pain conditions are often caused or aggravated by the way you walk. Added factors are tight muscles, being overweight, poor footwear and the kind of activity that you do. Alternative Foot Solutions offer the following effective treatments:

• Foot mobilisation therapy: a gentle hands-on technique that corrects the misalignments within the lower legs. This method is beneficial because it is corrective and creates changes within the foot. It doesn’t restrict your choice of footwear either.
• Acupuncture: I often use this together with foot mobilisation therapy. Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to reduce pain and inflammation while foot mobilisation therapy treats the underlying causes of the condition.
• Orthotics: I also use orthotics as a way of improving misalignment within the foot by supporting the arch. Orthotics can be a useful tool to help treat both conditions but they only work while the patient is wearing them.

Foot mobilisation, acupuncture, and foot orthotics can be used together or separately when treating heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome.

You really don’t have to suffer debilitating heel pain. call our Manly Vale clinic on (02) 8966 9300 or book an appointment online.