If you've ever suffered from a heel spur, you know how difficult this medical condition can be. It can cause severe pain and make it hard to walk. The heel spur itself is not the root cause of the discomfort -- it's the inflammation caused by the heel spur rubbing on your surrounding tissues. The prospect of exercising with a heel spur may make you cringe, but in many cases you can still exercise, in spite of it.
Causes
Heel spurs occur when excess bone growth, or calcification, forms and irritates the surrounding tissue by tearing the fibrous bands that support the foot arch. A condition called plantar fasciitis, which is an ongoing irritation of the tissue connecting your heel bone and toes, can cause heel spurs. You can develop plantar fasciitis from foot deformities, standing on your feet for long periods, being overweight, or even from shoes with poor arch support. This can lead to inflammation in the heel, significant pain and difficulty walking.
Identification
To identify if you have a heel spur, you need to visit a podiatrist or an orthopedic physician. Your physician will perform an examination of the area and do x-rays to confirm the presence of a heel spur.
Treatment
Your physician may use cortisone shots to help reduce inflammation and pain. If you're having severe pain, your physician may prescribe pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications. Your physician may also suggest footwear with a more supportive arch. Surgical treatment is available if more traditional treatment methods fail. The surgical procedure will remove the excess bone, which will reduce the inflammation and pain.
Exercise
You can exercise with heel spurs, although you may suffer from pain during or after exercise. According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, having tight calf muscles can actually tighten the fibrous tissues that attach to the heel, which contributes to heel pain. Therefore, it suggests taking your time and warming up before beginning exercise. You should perform stretching exercises that involve your ankle, legs, calves, and plantar fascia. In addition, wear shoes that fit well and have good shock-absorbent soles, rigid shanks, and extra padding in the heel for comfort. The University of South Florida recommends applying ice to the heel for at least 20 minutes after exercise. This helps to relieve pain and reduce any inflammation that exercise may cause. If your pain continues to worsen, you should immediately seek the advice of your physician.
Warning
If you need medical attention for your heel spurs, and put it off, the pain may eventually rob you of your ability to walk. Postponing medical treatment also makes it more likely that your condition will worsen, that treatment will be more complicated and expensive, and that your recovery will be delayed.
