Heel pain is typically felt on the underside, or back of the heel, and can range from mild to extremely painful. It also has a range of causes, the most common being plantar fasciitis, a main cause of heel spurs. A heel spur is a calcium deposit that causes a bony like protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. Heel spurs usually start at the front of the heel, but they can extend all the way to the arch of the foot. Although heel spurs are often painless, they can cause a lot of heel pain. The pain can be intermittent or chronic, and inflammation sometimes occurs at the point of the spur’s formation.

How are heel spurs prevented and treated? Heel pain caused by heel spurs, unlike other foot conditions, may not respond well to rest since the pain is often at its worst when first getting up in the mornings. The best treatment for heel spurs is stretching exercises, shin splints, pain-relief medication, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. Special men’s orthopedic shoes for heel spurs and heel pain with orthotic insoles that help correct mechanical imbalances have also proven very effective in helping to treat heel spurs and heel pain. Since the purpose of these shoes is to reduce strain on the plantar fascia it is recommended to wear shoes that provide good cushioning under the heel.