How To Select The Best Shoes For Heel Spurs? Tips To Follow!

Have your shoes troubled you at some points? Or have you tried to adjust your feet in shoes even though they were too tight? Then you are exerting more pressure on your heels. Yes, using uncomfortable shoes, high-heeled shoes, and some flats will cause your heel spurs. Often characterized as a bony protrusion in your heel tissues, heel spurs can be problematic at times.

Although there are various treatment options, choosing the correct set of shoes is very important for this condition. Are you aware of the type of shoes that are best for heel spurs? If not, continue reading. This article will guide you in choosing the best pair of shoes for heel spur. Furthermore, it will also elaborate on the causes, symptoms, and treatment for this condition.

What Are Heel Spurs?

A heel spur is a bony projection at the foot heels. This is a common problem seen in several people. Heel spur is also known as osteophyte. It is formed due to the calcium deposition on the heel that occurs over a long period of time. Although heel spurs seem like piercing the tissues when seen in an X-ray, they do not perforate the tissues but stay inside the tissue fibers embedded in them. Because of the same reason heel spurs cannot be identified easily as they are asymptomatic. 

Even though surgeries help to remove spurs, doctors recommend non-surgical methods at first. Studies reveal that although they are common, heel spurs cannot be cured completely. However, the non-surgical methods will reduce their symptoms. Surgeries will only be recommended once these non-surgical treatments do not offer results even after 9-12 months.

What Causes Heel Spurs?

Heel spurs can occur due to different reasons. One of the major causes of a heel spur is calcium deposition in the lower side of the heel. This is a slow process that happens over a period of time. Commonly seen in sports personalities, heel spur can also be caused by continuous physical activities like running or jumping. Other causes of heel spurs include:

• Strains on ligaments and foot muscles
• Beginning a new physical activity
• Continuous tearing of heel bone lining
• Inflammation due to plantar fasciitis
• Tightened calf muscles
• Flat or high arch feet
• Aging 

Symptoms Of Heel Spurs

Heel spurs are difficult to identify as they are asymptomatic in most cases. However, if inflammation develops at the site of spur formation, it will lead to intermittent to acute pain, especially while walking or running. Mostly, these inflammations are caused due to injury caused in the soft tissues in the heels, a medical condition called plantar fasciitis. Heel spur and plantar fasciitis although similar are often used interchanged.

The pain caused by both conditions can be acute and may feel like a needle piercing your heels while facing your feet on the floor in the morning after waking up or walking after keeping your feet idle for a long time.

Choosing The Best Shoes For Heel Spurs

Choosing the best and most supportive footwear is important when you have heel spurs. The right shoes with stability, cushioning, and support will help to reduce the discomforts caused by heel spurs.

So, choosing shoes with extra cushioning and deep heel cups is ideal for those with heel spurs as they will prevent the pressure from getting concentrated on the heels. Such shoes also provide stability and alignment to the feet, reducing discomfort. Some of the shoes that offer better comfort for those with heel spurs are:

• Platform wedges

Platform wedges are a common variety of shoes popularly used by women. Although these shoes have heels, they are not as harmful as other heel shoes. As these shoes have leveled heels, they place your feet on a level plane causing less discomfort.

• Tennis shoes

Tennis shoes are the other commonly recommended shoes for those with heel spurs. Most of these shoes have higher-heel designs that reduce the stress on the heels and offer more comfort.

Can Shoes Help Deal With Heel Spurs?

Although shoes cannot cure heel spurs, they may be able to reduce the discomfort caused by the problem. So, identifying the ideal shoes for you is important, especially when you are suffering from heel spurs. Using comfortable shoes with extra cushions will help to reduce the tears caused by walking.

According to podiatrists, heels create microscopic tears in the heel tissues every time they hit the ground. So, extra cushioning helps to prevent these tears and reduce the pain and discomfort caused by the existing tears. Uncomfortable shoes like those that do not fit you properly as they are small or big and worn down shoes can create long-term problems. So, always stick to comfortable cushioned shoes that fit your legs.

Shoes To Avoid For Heel Spurs

Avoiding certain types of shoes will help to alleviate the pain and troubles caused by heel spurs. Some such shoes are:

• High heeled shoes

High-heeled shoes like stilettos, platform heels, and cut-out heels exert more pressure on the heel and ball of the foot. This will create pain and inflammation.

• Ballet flats

Although ballet flats may seem comfortable while wearing, they do not provide enough arch support to the feet.

• Flip-flops 

These shoes do not provide support and exert more pressure on the heels causing pain.

Curing Heel Spurs

As mentioned above heel spurs can be treated using several different methods. These methods include surgeries and non-surgical options. However, once formed heel spurs cannot be cured completely. However, surgeries claim to remove these spurs. Consulting a doctor is essential in determining the treatment for your heel spurs. Healthcare professionals may recommend several non-surgical options such as:

• Stretching exercises
• Physical therapies
• Using shoe inserts or orthotic devices
• Changes in shoes
• Night splints

The pain caused by heel spur can also be controlled with over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. However, surgeries will only be recommended if other treatments fail even after treating for over a year. The surgeries include releasing the plantar fascia or removing the spur. The surgeries also recommend post-surgical care such as rest, use of ice compressions, elevation of the feet, and sometimes the use of bandages, splints, and surgical shoes, which will be determined with some pre-surgical tests.

Conclusion

Heel spurs are commonly caused due to calcium deposition in the heels. As these bony outgrowth stays within the tissue fibers without piercing the tissues, they do not show any symptoms or pain. However, they can lead to plantar fasciitis or injuries in the tissues. This will create pain and discomfort.

These two conditions are similar yet have few differences. A heel spur can also be caused by strains on ligaments and foot muscles, beginning a new exercise or physical activities, aging, tightened calf muscles, and flat or high arch feet. 

Initially, doctors recommend various non-surgical methods like physical therapies, stretching exercises, night splints, using orthotic devices, and changing shoes. However, if these do not provide significant results even after 10-12 months surgeries will be considered. Shoe types have a major role in heel spurs.

Using comfortable platform wedges, tennis shoes, or extra cushioned shoes will help to reduce the symptoms caused by heel spurs. Continuous use of shoes like high heels, ballet shoes, and flip-flops may exert more pressure on your heels and ball of the feet, resulting in pain and discomfort.

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