What are heel spurs?
A calcaneal spur, more commonly known as a heel spur, arises when a bony outgrowth forms on the heel bone. Calcaneal spurs can form at the back of the heel (dorsal heel spur) or under the sole (plantar heel spur). Spurs are a secondary effect of a tendon attachment injury; dorsal spurs are often associated with Achilles tendinopathy, while plantar spurs are more associated with plantar fasciitis.
Heel spurs are typically painless. However, they can cause pain when they exert pressure on surrounding nerves or soft tissues, leading to heel pain when standing or walking. In addition to this pain, you may experience swelling, and your heel may feel warm to the touch.
Here at Osteo and Physio, our osteopaths take a holistic approach to treatment of heel spurs. We take the time to accurately diagnose the original cause of the problem and design a course of treatment to deal with that. We also successfully use shockwave therapy to support the body to remove the heel spur.
Shockwave treatment for calcaneal spurs
Shockwave therapy disrupts the formation of calcium in the spur and encourages the body to reabsorb the spiky growth. It is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to stimulate healing – so there are no incisions or extended recovery periods. This means that you can get back to your daily routine much faster.
Unlike surgical intervention, shockwave therapy for foot pain also carries fewer risks.
Shockwave for heel spurs – a success story
When Sue arrived at our clinic, she was miserable because a painful calcaneal spur was making it difficult for her to walk and stopping her from enjoying her favourite sport, tennis. We confirmed the diagnosis with an ultrasound scan and began shockwave treatment straight away.
Because spurs are caused by tendon attachment and tension issues, we also diagnosed and treated those issues to prevent the recurrence of the spur.
After just six treatments, 85% of the spur had gone. She could now walk without noticing it and was finally back on the tennis court.
The beauty of shockwave therapy is that the improvements will continue; where she was treated, the tendon will be stronger, making her more resilient and less injury-prone when doing what she loves. Additionally, because osteopathy is a holistic treatment, the original cause of the spur has been corrected.
Book your appointment now
It couldn’t be easier to book your appointment with Osteo & Physio! Book a session via our app |https://osteoandphysio.co.uk/the-osteo-and-physio-app/|, website or call our friendly reception team on 0345 5577788.
