Heel spur is a dangerous and unpleasant disease that is common among people of all ages.
Women are 3 times more likely to experience a growth on the heel than men. This “injustice” is associated with wearing shoes with heels, as well as with destabilization of the water-salt balance.
Effective treatment of plantar fasciitis is only possible under the supervision of an orthopedist, however, there are ways to successfully treat heel spurs at home, which also give positive results.
How to treat a heel spur with folk remedies and is it possible to completely get rid of it? You will find detailed answers to these and many other questions in the article.
Is traditional treatment for heel spurs at home effective?
The debate about whether heel spurs can be treated with traditional methods has been going on for a very long time. Proponents of home treatment cite evidence showing the high effectiveness of traditional medicine in getting rid of fasciitis, while their opponents argue that success is impossible without drug therapy.
As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle, so most orthopedic doctors do not reject traditional methods, but strongly recommend combining them with traditional treatment.
What medications are used to treat heel spurs? Orthopedists prescribe the following types of medications to patients:
- painkillers to relieve pain;
- anti-inflammatory ointments based on non-steroidal drugs;
- wound healing agents;
- drugs that normalize metabolism.
In addition, doctors prescribe physical procedures and recommend wearing orthopedic heel supports for heel spurs to reduce pressure and shock-dynamic load on the heels.
In combination with these methods, almost any recipe for treating heel spurs at home will be effective.
About night orthoses and heel spur prevention
Night braces can be used as an additional tool in the treatment of heel spurs. Morning pain occurs as a result of repeated rupture of the fascia that has grown together overnight. At night, a person is in a horizontal position, and his feet are relaxed and extended. In the morning the sole bends. As a result of tension in the fascia, a rupture occurs. If you fix it at night, it will help avoid morning pain, so orthopedists recommend using special splints and night orthoses. An alternative could be long knee socks and additional straps that secure the foot at an angle of 90 degrees.
To ensure that the problem of heel spurs remains in the past and does not affect you in the future, you should pay attention to the following preventive methods:
- treat spinal diseases in a timely manner;
- do not cause flat feet;
- train muscles and ligaments;
- take care of the condition of the joints;
- wear good shoes;
- use hard orthopedic insoles;
- avoid foot injuries and overloads;
- lead an active and healthy lifestyle;
- control weight;
- eat right;
- seek preventive massage services.
Under no circumstances should the disease be neglected, as it gets stronger and becomes more and more difficult to treat. The presence of even minor discomfort and inconvenience when walking is the first sign that you should consult an orthopedic doctor. In advanced cases, surgical procedures may be required. If the cause of the problem is not eliminated, then even after surgery there is a risk that the spur will appear again.
When is it important to treat heel spurs at home?
Fasciitis almost always causes pain and discomfort. The patient literally cannot step on his heel, his gait changes, which leads to deformities of other parts of the foot. As a rule, all folk recipes tell how to cure heel spurs at home and reduce pain.
Also, people with fasciitis often experience inflammation and infection of the soft tissues and tendons in the vicinity of the growth. In this case, disinfection and elimination of the inflammatory process are necessary.
The onset of inflammation is indicated by the following symptoms:
- redness of the heel;
- the foot became hot;
- severe sharp pain;
- the appearance of calluses and corns on the fascia.
If there is severe pain that is not relieved by painkillers, a heel spur block can help. This event has many contraindications and should be carried out after consultation with a doctor.
In most cases, you can reduce the pain and soften the bone-salt thorn with simple remedies and massage for heel spurs at home, without calling a doctor.
Traditional methods of treatment.
Sand, salt, lavender oil, anti-inflammatory foods, baking soda
The sand is heated in the oven and the foot is immersed in it until the sand cools down.
You can use half a pack of salt instead of sand. It is better to do these warm-ups before bed. Apply lavender essential oil.
According to a 2015 study, lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Try dissolving one or two drops in olive or coconut oil and massage your feet with it. You can also try adding a few drops to a warm foot bath.
Compresses are also made with salt (ten milliliters of iodine tincture and a tablespoon of honey are added to a tablespoon of salt), which are applied at night a couple of times a week (in the morning it is advisable to walk around with the compress for about 15 minutes). Foot baths are also good at soothing pain: boil a salt solution (a kilogram of salt per five liters of water) and, after cooling it down so that the foot can tolerate it, keep it in this solution until it cools down. The procedure is repeated daily for 10 days.
Eat anti-inflammatory foods. The following foods: turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper and cumin seeds are known for their strong anti-inflammatory properties. These products contain natural antioxidants and polyphenol. And they act as protective compounds and help reduce inflammation. You can prepare a decoction of 1 teaspoon of ginger, turmeric or pepper powder and warm water. Drink this whenever pain occurs. With cumin seeds, you can boil them in water, strain and drink them to relieve pain.
Baking soda. You'll be surprised at the many things this humble kitchen ingredient can be used for. Baking soda has many benefits, from beautiful skin to teeth whitening. It acts directly on the calcium crystals deposited in the heel. Make a paste by mixing half a teaspoon of baking soda with water and apply it to your heel. Baking soda also helps balance pH levels.
Cabbage, vinegar, aloe vera
Cabbage leaf compress. It's no joke - some people recommend using cabbage to relieve heel pain. Soften some cabbage leaves. Secure the leaves with gauze or a bandage and leave overnight. Some people recommend pouring honey over the cabbage leaves before setting them. Cabbage contains a pigment called anthocyanin, which relieves replenishment.
Apple cider vinegar is a common home remedy for a wide variety of ailments. Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar and 6 cups of warm water in a bathtub or container. Soak your sore feet in water for 30 minutes. Apple cider vinegar is rich in nutrients and minerals, including magnesium, which can be absorbed through the skin.
Aloe vera seems to be growing in popularity as a panacea and superfood (or in some cases, superdrink). This plant is rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties and is also very beneficial for the skin. Aloe vera can be rubbed into the skin topically. Aloe vera contains mucopolysaccharides, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Massotherapy
Ball massage . This massage is useful for relieving pain. To relieve the pain associated with a heel bone spur, it is necessary to massage the calf muscles. This stimulates blood circulation, which leads to relaxation of the calf muscles, reducing stress on the foot.
For a massage you can do yourself, use a small ball and roll it along the bottom of your foot. You can also use a simple massage roller. This can be done while you are sitting at your desk or on the couch in front of the TV. Many people follow this method to bring immediate and long-lasting relief.
Bottle massage. Sit on a chair with both feet on the floor. Raise one leg and place a water bottle under the middle of your foot. Slowly roll the water bottle from the ball of your foot to your heel, leaning forward to apply more pressure as you massage. Continue rolling the water bottle back and forth from your heel to the ball of your foot about 10 times and repeat with the other leg.
Iodine
You need to crush an analgin tablet, add a little iodine to the powder and mix, apply the resulting mixture to the heel. You can make baths: add a tablespoon of soda and 15 drops of iodine to three liters of water.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral for bone formation and calcium utilization. More than half of the magnesium in the human body is stored in the bones, and the body requires it for protein synthesis.
One way to treat heel spur symptoms is to take a warm bath with Epsom salts. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Which has many beneficial properties when it comes to relieving pain and inflammation. Add a cup of Epsom salts and gently massage your heels to relieve pressure.
There are also many great magnesium-rich foods that supply you with magnesium. For example, avocados contain high amounts of magnesium. Pay attention to spinach and bananas, they are also excellent sources of magnesium. Finally, pumpkin seeds, lentils, white beans, brown rice, millet and dried figs also contain magnesium.
Compress made of honey and dough, curd dressings
Heel spurs are treated with folk remedies by smearing the heel with honey, putting some dough on it, putting on a plastic bag and a warm sock.
Three tablespoons of fresh cottage cheese are placed on a bandage folded in several layers and tied to the heel. The procedure is carried out three nights in a row.
Comprehensive treatment of heel spurs (plantar fasciitis) at home
The most effective non-surgical method for treating plantar fasciitis today is stretching the heel fascia using special devices and exercises in combination with complete unloading of the foot. This integrated approach gives excellent results and helps eliminate pain and relieve inflammation of the heel tubercle.
When the plantar fascia is stretched, microtraumas heal and the functions of the foot ligaments are restored. Salt deposits no longer collect around the damaged fascia to form a heel spur. The growth stops growing and eventually disappears completely. Regular stretching of the fascia of the foot helps to completely get rid of the spur, eliminates pain, and improves the quality of life.
All products for effective stretching of fascia at home are combined into a unique set for heel spurs ORTGUT FASCIUM.
The kit includes:
- A night splint for heel spurs (orthosis) fixes the leg at an angle of 90 degrees with the fascia stretched to the maximum, eliminating morning “starting” pain.
- The plantar fascia stretching training band improves the flexibility and elasticity of the foot ligaments.
- Arch supports to support the arch of the foot when walking, effectively protecting the heel from stress and shock. Used during the day with shoes or barefoot.
- A massage ball for gymnastics for heel spurs strengthens the muscles of the foot, helps to relax after physical activity, and normalizes blood circulation.
The ORTGUT FASCIUM kit for plantar fasciitis helps eliminate pain, normalizes gait, and restores motor activity without surgery. Regular use of the products from the kit helps to completely get rid of plantar fasciitis and prevent relapse.
You can find out more about the kit and order it with delivery to any region of Russia by following the link.
Causes of heel spurs
A heel spur can be recognized by severe pain in the heel. This is especially noticeable in the morning and at night. The pain may subside during the day. Bone grows on the sole and over time the problem becomes noticeable to the naked eye. The following reasons can provoke the appearance of this defect:
- the presence of excess weight and, as a result, increased load on the foot;
- flat feet, causing excessive tension on the heel bone;
- thinning of the fat pad in old age;
- the presence of connective tissue diseases;
- pathological problems in the spinal column;
- violation of mineral metabolism;
- vascular pathologies;
- consequences of fractures and ligament ruptures;
- frequent and prolonged wearing of low-quality shoes that cause discomfort;
- long periods of standing.
How to treat heel spurs at home with foot baths?
The best option is a bath after therapeutic exercises for heel spurs, containing special exercises.
Foot baths for feet with heel spurs have a positive effect:
- soothe, relieve pain;
- soften growth and rough skin;
- soften calluses and corns;
- disinfect, eliminate unpleasant odors.
The most popular bath recipes are:
Salt + soda.
To prepare, take the hottest water you can tolerate. Pour 3-4 tbsp. spoons of table salt and soda. Lower your feet and hold them until the water cools. It is better to take such a bath in the evening.
After the procedure, carefully dry your feet with a towel and apply cream. The best option is to use a product made specifically for heel spurs.
For example, Pyatkashpor ointments effectively moisturize the skin and help reduce bone spurs.
Iodine + salt.
How to treat heel spurs with iodine and salt? Dissolve 2-3 liters in water at a temperature of +45-50 C. salt and add one ampoule (approximately 50 drops) of iodine. Steam your feet until the water cools completely. After the bath, it is advisable to wear warm socks.
Iodine has a disinfecting effect, and salt softens the growth, eliminating discomfort. To enhance the positive effect, you can take sea salt rather than table salt.
Clay.
Clay baths are indicated for inflammatory conditions. Clay also removes salt deposits well, which cause inflammation of the heel fascia.
It is better to buy clay at the pharmacy, but you can also take regular clay, for example from the garden. The amount of clay is determined “by eye” - the water should become cloudy after adding it.
What to do after charging?
After gymnastics, it is recommended to take a foot bath and have a relaxing massage. Folk remedies for heel spurs advise taking baths with sea salt, iodine, honey, and also based on medicinal herbs.
After the bath, you need to apply Pyatkashpor cream containing medical bile to your feet. Creams from the Pyatkashpor line soften the skin of the heels and help the bone spine to dissolve.
You can do a relaxing foot massage for heel spurs yourself. Massage movements consist of stroking, light tapping and pinching. The main goal of the procedure is to relax the nerve endings of the fascia and normalize blood circulation in the feet.
To fix the heel fascia in the correct position during the day, you can use kinesio tape for heel spurs, and at night - a Strasbourg sock.
How to deal with heel spurs with Dimexide?
Dimexide is a pharmaceutical solution characterized by anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. Also, Dimexide for heel spurs helps relieve pain and soften the spine.
The main feature of Dimexide is the ability to penetrate deep into the epidermis, destroying pathogenic microorganisms there. This remedy is indispensable in the presence of inflammation caused by infection.
A heel spur, treated at home with Dimexide, quickly decreases and eventually disappears completely.
The compress is prepared as follows: 1/4 cup of warm water is mixed with 20 ml of Dimexide. Take a multilayer gauze swab and moisten it with the resulting solution. Using a bandage, the tampon is attached to the heel, and a bag or cling film and a woolen sock are put on top. You need to walk with the compress for at least half an hour.
It is better to repeat treatment with Dimexide in the morning and evening for two weeks in a row. After removing the tampon, it is necessary to apply effective ointments for heel spurs with moisturizing and antimicrobial characteristics.
Medical bile: ways to treat heel spurs at home
Natural medical bile is a light brown substance obtained from cows. Bile is used for a variety of medicinal purposes, including heel spurs. The substance has an analgesic effect and also promotes the resorption of bone-saline buildup.
Before removing a heel spur at home using natural bile, the heel must be steamed in a bath with salt or iodine. After this, a gauze swab is applied, generously soaked in bile.
The tampon is left overnight, and the foot is washed in the morning. For best results, it is recommended to wear a sheepskin sock on top or use microwave heated slippers.
Recipes for treating spurs with bile are varied, the most effective among them are:
Bile + red or black pepper + camphor alcohol.
Bile and alcohol are taken in a ratio of 1:2 and infused for a day. Camphor alcohol enhances the effect of medicinal bile. Apply as a compress.
Medical bile + iodine solution + ammonia + honey + glycerin.
All substances are taken in equal proportions. The resulting solution is infused for 2-3 days and applied as a compress. Before use, the mixture must be heated in a water bath.
Bile 200 ml + 50 ml shampoo + 50 ml vodka.
Mix thoroughly and use immediately as a compress.
Plantar massage while sitting
Sitting on a chair, place the shin of the leg you are working on on your other knee.
Using the same hand, extend your fingers towards your shin until you feel a stretch in the sole. With your other hand, massage the bottom of your foot, moving from your heel to your toes. Duration: 3-5 minutes. After all the stretching exercises are done, move on to strengthening the muscles.
TOP 10 recipes: how to cure heel spurs at home
We offer 10 best recipes for getting rid of inflamed heel fascia at home:
Recipe 1: Onions and garlic.
Regular fresh garlic against heel spurs is effective due to the presence of powerful immune-stimulating substances in its composition. In combination with onions, which are rich in phagocytes, this gives an excellent anti-inflammatory result.
To prepare the compress, you need 1 medium-sized onion and 3-5 cloves of garlic, which are crushed. The resulting paste must be applied to the spur and kept for at least two hours.
Recipe 2: Rubbing alcohol.
The alcohol must be heated to +40 C and the foot should be lowered until it cools completely. You can use regular vodka. This remedy is especially effective in the evening, when pain from heel spurs prevents you from falling asleep.
Recipe 3: Vinegar and raw chicken egg.
Treatment of heel spurs with vinegar and raw egg is based on the ability of these substances to soften the heel spur. It’s very simple to prepare the ointment: break 1 egg, pour in 1/2 tbsp. 9% vinegar and 100 g butter. Stir and melt the mixture over low heat. When heated, the ointment will thicken. Apply to the affected heel at night.
Note: it is recommended to wear special orthopedic heel pads during the day. They will help relieve pain and discomfort when walking and speed up the treatment process.
Recipe 4: Potatoes.
Raw potatoes, especially young ones with a high starch content, help reduce the thorn. The potatoes are grated and the resulting porridge is applied to the heel. It is recommended to repeat every evening.
Recipe 5: Propolis.
This product is an excellent natural antiseptic and has an analgesic effect. Lotions with propolis help to dissolve the heel spike. Before use, propolis must be softened in a water bath. You need to keep the lotion at night.
Recipe 6: Salt compress.
Regular treatment of heel spurs with salt relieves pain well. To prepare, you need to take sea or table salt, add a spoonful of honey and a couple of drops of iodine. Apply the resulting thick mixture to the sore heel and hold for half an hour.
Another recipe with salt that requires stamina: dissolve 500 g of salt in boiling water and dip your heels in it. This method is not recommended in the presence of acute inflammation and wounds on the feet.
Recipe 7: Pharmacy turpentine.
Used to relieve pain in the absence of inflammation and open injuries of the foot. The sore spot is rubbed with turpentine, and a cotton sock is put on top.
The procedure is best done at night and combined with an orthopedic orthosis or Strasbourg sock.
Recipe 8: Burdock.
Burdock leaves are crushed to a porridge consistency. For severe pain, you can crush and add an aspirin tablet to the mixture. Burdock leaves for heel spurs effectively draw out salts and help get rid of the spur.
Recipe 9: Red pepper.
Take a pinch and put it in your socks. Walk for 6-8 hours. Pepper warms the heel and helps reduce spurs.
Helpful advice: wearing high-quality orthopedic insoles with heel shock absorbers will help to properly unload the feet, eliminate pain and discomfort when walking and speed up the treatment process.
Recipe 10: Aluminum foil.
Quite an extravagant recipe for treating fasciitis. The point of treatment is the effect of metal on the active points of the heel, eliminating pain. To remove a heel spur, you need to take foil, wrap it around your heel and secure it with a bandage.
Pharmacy ointments
There are many medications to treat heel spurs, but they work differently. Some relieve inflammation and reduce pain, others improve blood circulation, others act comprehensively and help eliminate thorns
Pyatkaspor gel
The preparations Pyatkaspor and Pyatkaspor reinforced effectively and safely destroy bone growth, relieve pain when supporting the heel and restore gait. The main active ingredients are medical bile and arnica extract
- Medical bile - has an irritating, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and absorbable effect
- Arnica extract - softens tissues, relieves inflammation and reduces pain
Before using the gel, you need to make a softening foot bath. Water temperature 34-35 degrees C. Procedure duration 25 minutes
Depth of leg immersion: entire foot, ankle joint and 10 cm of shin. To soften, add baking soda to the water at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water.
After the bath, dry the foot slightly, then apply the gel with light massage movements to the heel spur and the Achilles tendon area. After the procedure, wear warm socks. Perform the procedure daily!
The duration of treatment is at least 4 weeks. If necessary, repeat the course. To consolidate the results, use the Pyatkashpor prophylactic gel-cream 2-3 times a week for a month.
Dolobene gel
The main active ingredients included in the gel:
- Dexpanthenol - restores damaged tissues
- Heparin sodium - has an anti-inflammatory effect, prevents excessive self-destruction of tissue. Participates in skin regeneration processes
- Dimethyl sulfoxide - has anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, and local analgesic effects. Improves tissue penetration of other medicinal components
The gel is applied in a thin layer 2-4 times/day. The course of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and severity of the disease
Indomethacin ointment
The drug helps relieve pain and inflammation thanks to the substances it contains. The active component of the ointment is indomethacin
- Indomethacin has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects. Relieves pain when moving, reduces morning stiffness
Apply externally. Apply a thin layer to affected joints or areas of the body 2-4 times a day. Duration of therapy is no more than 7 - 10 days
The disadvantage of the drug is its inability to reduce the bone spine. The ointment relieves inflammation and relieves pain, but does not fight the growth itself
Dexpanthenol ointment
The ointment applied to the skin turns into pantothenic acid, which is involved in regenerative processes in tissues. The main component of the drug is dexpanthenol
- Dexpanthenol - stimulates skin regeneration, normalizes cellular metabolism, increases the strength of collagen fibers. Has a weak anti-inflammatory effect.
The ointment is applied in a thin layer 2-4 times a day. If applied to an infected skin surface, it should be pre-treated with any antiseptic.
Dimexide gel
Allows you to reduce swelling, relieve pain and eliminate the inflammatory process. Penetrates through skin cells and enhances the effect of the substances included in the gel. The main active ingredient is dimethyl sulfoxide
- Dimethyl sulfoxide - relieves inflammation and increases microcirculation in tissues. Increases skin permeability to drugs
The gel is applied in a thin layer to the affected area 1-2 times a day. Can be used under a bandage. Duration of treatment is 10-14 days. Repeated courses can be carried out no less than 10 days later
The gel has contraindications for use, so before purchasing it is necessary to consult a specialist and carefully study the manufacturer's instructions
Diclofenac
The drug is available in the form of gel, ointment and cream. The pharmaceutical product belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Includes:
- Diclofenac sodium - helps relieve pain, reduces inflammation, has an anti-edematous effect
The drug should be applied to the skin over the area of inflammation 3-4 times a day. The duration of use depends on the indications and effectiveness of treatment. After 2 weeks of use, the patient should consult a doctor
Vishnevsky ointment
The drug is a non-steroidal drug and has a strong specific smell of tar, which sometimes leads to restrictions in use. The ointment contains birch tar, castor oil, xeroform powder
- Birch tar - blood supply to a sore heel is disrupted, and birch tar improves blood circulation, which allows you to relieve unpleasant symptoms;
- Castor oil - softens the skin and helps the active ingredients penetrate deeper into the tissues;
- Xeroform powder - has an antiseptic effect;
Liniment is applied to the affected areas two to three times a day, in a thin layer.
Turpentine ointment
Turpentine-based compounds are used in the treatment of heel spurs as a distraction agent. The product has a warming effect, which increases blood circulation in tissues
- Turpentine oil - has a local irritating, distracting and antiseptic effect. The warming effect relieves pain and helps reduce the size of the spine
Turpentine can be irritating to the skin, so ointment based on it cannot be used regularly. Periodic use is allowed, but not more than 2 times a week
How to choose an ointment for heel spurs at home?
When talking about how to get rid of heel spurs using folk remedies, you need to remember about daily foot care. The presence of a spur requires particularly strict adherence to hygiene and antiseptics.
Daily care for feet with spurs includes:
- examining the spur for inflammation, development and infection;
- washing feet;
- treatment with special creams or ointments for the feet.
For regular use, you can use ointments from the Pyatkashpor series. This series contains three types of ointments designed specifically for people with heel spurs. "Pyatkashpor" contains natural bile, which effectively removes growths, softens rough skin and moisturizes.
For inflamed heel spurs, Pyatkaspor Reinforced is recommended; after eliminating the pain and reducing the spur, Pyatkaspor Regular can be used. After completion of treatment, Pyatkashpor Prophylactic is applied as a prophylactic agent.
Symptoms of having a spur
The fact that we are talking about a heel spur is indicated by the presence of the following symptoms:
- heel pain that gets worse after prolonged sitting or lying down. Normal movement causes great discomfort. The man begins to limp. In the evening the pain intensifies;
- gait deformity. Due to painful movements, a person begins to limp or fall to one side;
- discomfort in the heel area, the appearance of red and rough skin, as well as tissue suppuration.
How to remove heel spurs at home without surgery?
Heel spores can be cured without surgery using conservative methods only when a certain condition is created for the heel fascia. The correct condition means the position of the heel in which it is minimally exposed to microtraumas leading to the formation of a heel spur.
In the daytime, taping has this effect; at night, using a Strasbourg sock. Let's look at these tools in more detail.
Taping.
Taping is a method of wrapping the foot to maintain the longitudinal arch. To tape a foot with a heel spur, use a wide adhesive plaster or sports tape. Some pharmacies sell ready-made tapes.
There are several taping techniques, the simplest consists of the following steps:
- Wrap the tape around the foot at its widest point and fix it.
- The next strip is placed on top of the first strip with an overhang of 2 cm. Thus, the metatarsus is fixed.
- Turn the tape around the base of the foot. To do this, secure the tape near the big toe with a bandage and wrap the tape around the heel.
- The tape is passed so as to cross the foot diagonally to the big toe from below. As a result, the tape should end close to where it begins.
- Wrap the tape from the foot to the base of the little toe, fixing the patch. Next, the tape is wrapped around the heel and stretched diagonally back to the little toe.
- The revolutions under points 4...5 are repeated.
A corset is made around the transverse arch: from the base of the toes, the tape is applied around the foot, leaving it open. The ends of the tape are secured with adhesive tape.
Strasbourg sock.
The Strasbourg sock is a special device for fixing the feet in an extended position during sleep. Using the Strasbourg sock is very simple: just put it on and fasten it according to the instructions.
Regular use of the sock while sleeping at night helps relieve pain, prevent the development of spurs and reduce existing growths.
In addition to these orthopedic aids, it is necessary to take care of unloading the heel when walking. Impact load and body weight pressure during movement have a negative impact on the heel spur.
To prevent harmful effects, it is necessary to wear special shoes for heel spurs and orthopedic insoles. The use of a Strutz arch support to support the arch also gives good results.
All these devices are required for the treatment of spurs on the heels; remember that even the most expensive medications and effective folk methods will be powerless if your heels are subject to shock loads during the treatment period.
Therapeutic gymnastics for heel spurs: Bubnovsky exercises
Russian professor Sergei Bubnovsky, specializing in pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and orthopedics, has developed a special complex for people with problems with the longitudinal arch of the foot and weak calcaneal fascia.
Considering that the goal of exercise therapy for heel spurs is to strengthen the fascia, the Bubnovsky complex is also suitable for those suffering from heel spurs.
If you have a painful heel spur, Bubnovsky's physical exercises can be performed while lying in bed immediately after waking up.
The complex includes the following exercises:
- Lie on your back, arms along your body, and feet shoulder-width apart. Stretch both big toes up and bend towards you. Press your heels into the surface.
- Lie down as in exercise 1 and try to spread your thumbs as wide as possible.
- Raise your leg and rotate your foot inward/outward.
- Bend and smoothly straighten the phalanges of your toes.
- Try to clench your foot into a fist and slowly straighten it.
You will spend no more than 5-10 minutes on the whole complex, but it will help get rid of the pain that very often torments patients in the morning.