In most cases, pain in the heel area indicates the appearance of a spur. This is a growth on the bone, which causes a lot of inconvenience. It is worth noting that this disease is quite common, especially in older people. There can be many reasons for the appearance and symptoms of pathology, we will consider them in more detail in our article. If such a problem occurs, it is recommended to perform exercises with a heel spur. It must be remembered that before proceeding to the main one, you must first do exercises, stretching. This will help eliminate pain and prepare the body for a set of exercises.
What is this?
In the medical dictionary, a heel spur is spelled plantar fasciitis. The name of the pathology very accurately reflects the essence of the problem - inflammation of the muscle fascia and the membrane around. Fasciitis can occur as a result of regular increased exercise. The fascia begins to become inflamed and injured, and then calcium deposits appear, which is the heel spur.
It should be understood that bone growth does not occur only in the elderly. Although, of course, they have a higher chance of acquiring this pathology than young people. The formation of fasciitis is an unpleasant ailment that makes it difficult to simply move on your feet. With any load, severe pain occurs, forcing you to stop. It is imperative to perform exercises with a heel spur. Thanks to them, the leg will develop, and the pain will also subside.
Causes of occurrence
Consider the categories of people who are most susceptible to this disease, as well as diseases that cause fasciitis. So, the following groups are highly likely to have spurs:
- who is constantly on his feet due to the peculiarities of the profession;
- people involved in athletics at a professional level;
- overweight people;
- those who suffer from flat feet;
- women wearing high heels.
Among this list, flat feet stand out. Many people do not consider this a problem, not realizing how this disease interferes with life. When walking, the legs get tired very quickly, and the calf muscles are tense all the time.
Certain diseases can be attributed to the causes of heel spurs. Gout, Bechterew's syndrome, deforming arthrosis, etc. are especially dangerous. It is worth noting that the spur is formed due to a specific cause that must be identified before the treatment complex.
Signs of pathology
The main symptom of fasciitis is a sharp pain inheel area. Moreover, unpleasant sensations arise constantly: when walking, running, and even just in a standing position. Consider some types of pain that can occur with this pathology:
- pain can be sharp or aching;
- gait becomes lame, as it is impossible to step on a sore heel;
- unpleasant sensations usually appear after a long rest at the first steps;
- if the load increases, the pain acts similarly.
The heel spur as such is only 10% of the total number of growths. It may be old and not cause pain. However, at the physiological level, the growth will be felt. How to treat a heel spur at home? We will talk about this below.
Diagnosis
When the first signs appear, it is recommended to contact a specialist. In this case, there is a small problem, not everyone knows who exactly needs to be recorded. So which doctor should I contact for a heel spur? The first thing to do is visit a rheumatologist. However, if the bone growth was formed as a result of a severe injury, visit an orthopedist.
After an external examination, the specialist will send the patient for a medical examination. In this case, it includes:
- x-ray;
- if there are problems with the diagnosis, an MRI is prescribed;
- ultrasound examination is performed when the heel needs to be examined repeatedly;
- blood tests, including biochemical and general.
After definitiondiagnosis, the doctor will prescribe a course of therapy. In any case, it will include therapeutic exercises and exercises for heel spurs. Therefore, you need to prepare for a little physical activity.
Medication treatment
It is worth noting that there are a huge number of methods and methods of therapy. After we have decided which doctor to contact with a heel spur, we can proceed to direct treatment. It is always aimed at eliminating the cause that caused the pathology.
If the injury caused the pathology, then you need to be at rest for about a month and take anti-inflammatory drugs. Among them, Ibuprofen and Diprospan are the most effective.
In case of very severe pain in the heel area, it is necessary to inject corticosteroids with other drugs directly into the point that is the focus of the disease.
If arthritis is the cause, the rheumatologist will prescribe antibiotics. They will help fight the infection. How to treat a heel spur at home?
Exercise
The whole cycle of therapeutic exercises is aimed at stretching the fascia on the sole, so that in the end it takes its previous shape. This is achieved by giving elasticity. A set of exercises for heel spurs is prescribed by the attending physician, so they may differ.
Usually, at first, experts recommend doing tasks aimed at stretching the muscles of the lower leg. You need to stand facing the wall at such a distance that you can reach it with your palms, your legs shouldspaced 30 cm apart. In this case, the injured leg must be placed behind. Having taken this position, you can begin to do squats, the main thing is that the heels do not rise from the floor. Experienced doctors say that the best way to treat heel spurs is exercise.
In the same position, you need to carefully and slowly bend your knees. This should be done until the stretching of the back leg begins to be felt. As soon as you feel that the process has passed, you need to freeze and stand like this for about 15 seconds, then continue squats.
A few more exercises for heel spurs
As already noted, first you need to properly stretch the muscles of the lower leg. In this regard, there is an elongation of the fascia, and everything falls into place. This exercise aims to achieve this goal. You need to put a board or book about 5 cm thick near the wall. Then you should stand on it so that the socks lie on the material and the heels hang down. After that, you need to lean on the wall and bend over so that the muscles begin to stretch. You should stay in this position for about 15 seconds. Then you need to straighten up and raise the body on toes 15 times, the heels should hang below the support.
Exercises and therapeutic exercises for heel spurs can hardly be overestimated. The task described above can be repeated daily, first on both legs, then alternately on each. After a good stretch of the calf muscles, you can proceed to other exercises.
Exercise for the foot with a heel spur
The foot is a place of localization of education, so its development is simply necessary forquality treatment. Consider a few tasks that are the most effective:
- Rolling the ball. To complete this exercise, you only need a tennis ball. The essence of the task is to roll the ball with the whole sore foot. If you don't have a ball, you can use a simple water bottle.
- Picking up various objects with your feet. You should scatter small objects on the floor like peas, beans, etc. Without using your hands, try to collect everything back. And so you can repeat every day, changing the size and surface of objects.
- Gymnastics for the foot. It is worth noting that you need to start and end with stretching. Then, with the help of hands or an elastic bandage, pull the foot towards you as much as possible and hold for 15 seconds. You need to repeat this exercise for a heel spur several times a day.
Massage
Gymnastics is, of course, good, but a great massage has never harmed anyone. Comprehensive treatment is complemented by this procedure, because often the patient is haunted by pain. You can do massage yourself, or you can turn to specialists in this field.
The best effect is achieved by adding ointments of various nature. And any will do, the main thing is to warm and relieve pain. They begin the procedure by massaging the heel with their thumbs, while pressing a little with their middle fingers on the source of pain. Such prophylaxis should last at least ten days.
The next stage is marked by a general massage. In this case, start with the foot,smoothly moving to the heel. Thus, you can achieve complete relaxation of the foot. The procedures are carried out in order to soften the tissue around the formation so that the heel acquires mobility. It must be remembered that with the help of massage you will not get rid of the spur, but in the complex it has a good effect.
Folk remedies
When a heel spur occurs, many patients use traditional medicine for treatment. This is exactly the case when these remedies can help better than medicines. The site of the lesion is rubbed gently with ointments and gels made independently. After the massage, it is recommended to keep your feet in a bath of hot water with s alt added.
Actively use exercises to strengthen the foot. You need to roll the corn on the floor, and collect the remaining objects with your toes. Doctors confirm that taking with corn is quite effective, since when in contact with the formation, there is a high probability of invaluable assistance in eliminating the build-up.
Reviews on the alternative treatment of heel spurs are mostly positive. Simple procedures can achieve some success and eliminate education.
Surgery
The operation to remove the spur is carried out very rarely, only when all other methods have been useless. With a well-chosen course of therapy and its implementation, unpleasant consequences can be avoided. It is possible to eliminate education without surgical intervention, the main thing is that a good specialist is engaged in treatment.
When the growthoperate, remove the entire spur together in a small part of the bone. If it comes to surgeons, this does not confirm the fact of the minimum number of relapses. Surgical removal does not prevent the formation of a new bone growth.
Also, doctors have to surgically remove those growths that are constantly developing and greatly interfere with walking. Such a development of events is possible if you start the disease and do not use any home remedies for heel spurs, or any others.
Prevention
Daily physical activity, excess weight and constant overeating can become activators in the appearance of growth. Gradually, the foot weakens, and the load does not decrease, and possibly increases. After that, problems with the legs begin to arise, and a heel spur is formed.
He alth is everyone's business. Some take it seriously, others ignore it. To protect yourself from such unpleasant situations, you should work on yourself daily, improving your skills in everything. If it so happens that a spur has appeared, you need to throw all your strength into eliminating it. By following the simple recommendations of doctors, one can overcome the development of education and return to a comfortable life.
A few tips to keep yourself in good shape and prevent the appearance of a spur on the heel:
- avoid extra pounds;
- if you have flat feet, try correcting it with orthopedic insoles and exercises;
- don't runinfectious diseases, start treatment immediately;
- women: don't wear high heels if you don't have to.
These recommendations are simple and you don't have to give up anything to follow them. It is worth remembering that he alth is the most important thing in our life. Therefore, under any circumstances, it is necessary to solve the problems associated with this.
