Heel Spurs are bony protrusions on the bottom of the foot that travel from the heel to the arch. This area between the heel and arch is known as the plantar fascia, and factors including obesity are causing many of complications within the population. In fact, poor eating habits and lifestyle choices are leading to obesity, which is a major factor in heel pain. Accompanied with eating foods high in fat is a lack of exercise which can combine to cause long-term heel pain. Extra weight places extra pressure on the plantar fascia. Generally, the natural padding on the bottom of the foot can withstand normal weight; yet, obesity causes too great an amount of stress to be placed on the foot, which it may not be able to withstand when walking. This results in damage to the plantar fascia. Symptoms include sharp pain in the morning, aching randomly, inflammation of the heel or heel sensitivity when touched.
Follow these tips for helping reduce your heel pain:
● Refrain from eating foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar and instead, choose more fruits and vegetables.
● Exercise regularly to reach a healthier weight.
● Utilize support devices such as orthotics to redistribute pressure away from the heel so that you can exercise and walk more often without sharp heel pain.
● Use anti-inflammatories or cortisone injections to alleviate swelling and pain.
● When conservative methods are not successful, surgical procedures may be required to physically remove the spur.
Heel pain can be very painful and may be brought on by regularly eating unhealthy foods that leads to significant weight gain. Here at the Foot Care Specialists, PC, located in Quincy (The South Shore, Boston, Metro West area) and Dedham (Boston, Metro West), Massachusetts, our podiatrist, Dr. Marshall L. Lukoff, can provide your feet with custom orthotics or surgical options to stop the pain in your heel and assist with developing a lifestyle change to reach a healthier weight. So, please make an appointment with our offices.