Heel Spurs

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Also known as Plantar Fasciitis. There are no visible signs, but symptoms include severe pain on the bottom of the heel after rest (rising from bed or sitting); pulling your ‘toes towards your nose’ causes pain; firm pressure with the thumb indicates a deep tender spot in or around the middle of the sole of the heel. The plantar fascia is a tight ligament that stretches along the bottom from the heel bone to the ball of the foot. If small fibers of this connective tissue begin to tear away from the heel bone, the body responds by depositing calcium in an attempt to “glue” the detached fibers back on to the heel. Heel spurs (“bone spurs” or calcaneal spurs) can develop if the fascia is continuously under tension, and be reabsorbed by the body or become symptom-free when the tension is released.