Heel Spur Treatment
Ankara heel spur; It is a disease of the soles of the feet that manifests itself especially when you first stand up in the morning and in case of standing for a long time. The most characteristic symptom of the disease; are intense pains that manifest themselves in the soles of the feet. The pain in the sole of the foot may not be felt much at rest. However, it increases when the person is in motion. For this reason, it can adversely affect the quality of life for people who work with body strength at an intense pace. The heel spur progresses if left untreated. Therefore, it must be treated. The most effective method in the treatment of heel spurs is physical therapy and rehabilitation.
You can learn about heel spur disease by reading our article. For more detailed information about heel spurs and treatment, you can visit our clinic in Ankara and contact Specialist Dr. Nural Aydın.
What Is a Heel Spur?
The heel spur is a bone protrusion that forms in the heel area. Calcium accumulated in the lower part of the heel bone is the main factor in the formation of this protrusion. This protrusion, which we call the heel spur, causes pain that increases when moving and decreases when resting.
How is the heel spur formed?
The feet are our limbs that carry all the burden of the body in our daily lives. It has a flexible and curved structure, which is formed by the connection and articulation of many small bones. In the lower region of the foot is a tissue that connects the heel bone and toes. As a result of traumas to this tissue, small ruptures begin to form in the fibers in the connective tissue. The calcium accumulated in the lower part of the heel bone leaks outward from these tears over time, forming a bony structure. This protrusion that forms is called the heel spur.
What Are the Symptoms of Heel Spurs?
The most important and obvious finding of the heel spur is the pain and burning sensation under the heel. Especially in the morning, the pain felt when first getting up and in the process of standing up after rest brings to mind the suspicion of heel spurs. Symptoms such as pain felt as a result of standing for a long time, swelling in the heel area, temperature increase, bone fragments and difficulty walking barefoot can also be seen.
What Causes Heel Spurs?
Choosing the wrong shoes, gait disorders (improper distribution of the weight placed on the bones and ligaments of the feet) and being overweight are the factors that affect the formation of heel spurs. However, spores in which the heels come into hard contact with the ground also cause damage to the tissues, paving the way for the formation of heel spurs. Working in occupations that require standing for long periods of time also increases the risk of developing heel spurs.
Heel Spur Treatment with Physical Therapy
The most effective treatment method in the treatment of heel spurs is physical therapy. Methods such as regular exercises with various instruments, cold and hot applications, massage to the base can be used. It is aimed to distribute the load on the muscles with physical therapy exercises and to reduce the pain with stretching movements. Methods such as ESWT, cortisone injection are other methods used in the treatment of heel spurs.
ESWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy) method, which is very effective in the treatment of heel spurs, gives 80-90% successful results. The ESWT method, known as shock wave therapy, is a physical therapy method frequently used in the treatment of heel spurs and the success rate is quite high. The ESWT method in the treatment of the heel spur is made by applying the generated pressure waves to the area of the heel spur with a special cap. The treatment is usually completed in 3-5 sessions lasting between 10-20 minutes. After treatment, the recurrence of the heel spur is low.
The absence of surgical intervention, no anesthesia, outpatient treatment and the ability of patients to return to their daily lives quickly is an important advantage of ESWT treatment. The high success rate of this treatment and the low recurrence rate are among the advantages of this method.
In the treatment of heel spurs, the most appropriate treatment method is determined by considering how far the disease has progressed and by evaluating the patient’s condition. The use of taboos, exercises and physical therapy methods are the most effective methods of treating heel spurs. In the initial stages of the disease, gradual improvement is aimed by changing the patient’s life habits. Some methods such as losing weight, wearing shoes suitable for foot health, using heel pillows, ice applications to the area, foot tapings, balancing the standing time can be preferred. In cases where these methods are insufficient, it is possible to control the symptoms with physical therapy. Stretching exercises on the sole of the feet and the back muscle groups of the legs will help reduce the complaints of heel spurs by relieving the sole of the foot.
You can contact our clinic to have more detailed information about heel spur treatment and physical therapy methods in Ankara.