Many patients have come to us at Healthmark Foot & Ankle Associates for treatment of heel pain in Philadelphia, so we know there are a number of reasons these ailments occur. One of the most common—and most painful—are bony protrusions called heel spurs. A heel spur is a bony growth that burrows into your foot as you walk.
Your heel spur may have been caused by:
- Age. Many bone spurs are simply a result of aging. As people get older, the cartilage, or padding, between their bones breaks down and wears away. Bony growths sometimes develop to help keep the ends of the bones from grating against each other.
- Activity. Heel spurs often form as the result of high-impact activities such as running, dancing or walking long distances, or even from standing for long periods of time.
- Stress. If the ligament running along the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia is overstretched, inflammation can result. To cope with the stress, the bone forms a spur on the bottom of the heel.
- Tall or tight shoes. The more pressure exerted on the back of the foot, the greater the chance a heel spur will develop. Spurs have often been called “pump bumps” because of the link between heel pain in women and high-heeled shoes.
Regardless of the cause of a heel spur, our Philadelphia podiatrists can ease your pain and get you walking comfortably again. Call us today at either one of our convenient locations to make an appointment for a consultation: 610-565-3668 in Media or 610-933-8644 in Phoenixville.
Want to know more about taking good care of your feet? Click the link on this page and we’ll send you a FREE copy of our book The Foot Is Not an Island: Recognizing Vitamin D Deficiency & How to Correct It.