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That stabbing pain under your heel with your first steps each morning isn’t something to walk off. It could be heel bone spurs. At RxWellness Spine & Health, we treat this condition across our clinics every week. Here’s a straightforward look at the causes, symptoms, and what your heel spurs treatment options actually are.
What Causes Heel Spurs to Form?
Heel spurs are caused by repeated stress on the heel bone and the surrounding soft tissues. Calcium deposits build up gradually, usually over many months. Knowing what causes heel spurs helps you make sense of your symptoms and your recovery path.
The most common causes of heel bone spurs include:
- Repeated strain and micro-tearing of the plantar fascia at the heel
- Abnormal walking patterns that shift excessive force onto the heel
- Prolonged standing on hard, unforgiving surfaces
- Wearing worn-down or poorly supportive footwear
- Overtraining without enough recovery time between sessions
- Tight calf muscles that pull on the heel bone repeatedly
- Gradual deterioration of the heel fat pad over time
Who is most at risk for bone spurs in the heel?
Some people face a higher chance of developing bone spurs in the heel.
- Runners and athletes training on hard surfaces regularly
- Adults with a BMI over 30
- People over 40 years old
- Workers who stand or walk for hours daily
- Those with flat feet or very high arches
- People with limited ankle range of motion
- Anyone with a history of plantar fasciitis
Research found that obesity roughly doubles the risk of developing plantar fasciitis alongside bone spurs in the heel.
Related: Do Chiropractors Help with Foot Pain?
Are bone spurs in the heel slowing you down every morning? Our team at RxWellness Spine & Health is ready to help. We’ll figure out what causes heel spurs in your case and get you moving without pain. Call the nearest RxWellness Spine & Health clinic or request an appointment online today.
What’s the Link Between Heel Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis and heel bone spurs are closely related but not the same thing. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick connective tissue running along the bottom of your foot. Bone spurs in the heel typically develop as the body responds to that ongoing strain.
Here’s what the research says:
- Roughly 50% of plantar fasciitis patients also have heel spurs
- The spur itself isn’t usually the source of the pain
- Plantar fasciitis causes the inflammation and discomfort tied to the spur
- Treating the plantar fasciitis typically resolves what causes heel spurs to hurt
Do bone spurs in the heel always cause pain?
Not always. This surprises a lot of patients.
- Over 15% of the general population has a heel spur with zero symptoms
- When pain is present, it’s almost always the plantar fasciitis driving it
- A spur on X-ray signals chronic mechanical stress on the plantar fascia
- Addressing the underlying cause is what stops the pain long term
Related: Electrotherapy for Plantar Fasciitis
How Do You Know You Have Bone Spurs in the Heel?
Diagnosis starts with understanding your symptoms and history. What causes heel spurs to produce symptoms is usually prolonged irritation of the surrounding soft tissue. An X-ray can confirm the bony deposit, but physical symptoms tell most of the story.
Common symptoms of bone spurs in the heel
- Sharp stabbing pain under the heel with the first steps of the morning
- Pain that eases slightly after moving around but returns after rest
- Tenderness directly at the base of the heel when pressed
- Dull aching after prolonged standing or walking
- Swelling or warmth around the heel area
- Discomfort wearing flat shoes with no cushioning
That sharp first-step morning pain is one of the most reliable indicators of plantar fasciitis, which is frequently what causes heel spurs to become symptomatic.
We also treat overlapping conditions like foot pain and tendonitis that share similar symptoms.
Related: Athletic Recovery and Chiropractic Health
What Are Your Best Options for Heel Spurs Treatment?
What causes heel spurs also guides how we treat them. The goal of heel spurs treatment is to reduce inflammation, restore proper mechanics, and take the load off the plantar fascia. Most patients don’t need surgery.
Conservative heel spurs treatment options
These are the first-line tools we rely on:
- Chiropractic adjustments to correct alignment in the foot, ankle, and lower extremity
- Stretching exercises for the calf muscles and plantar fascia
- Custom orthotics or heel cups to redistribute pressure and protect the heel
- Cold therapy to manage acute swelling and discomfort
- Soft tissue therapy and manual massage along the plantar fascia
- Foot taping techniques to offload the inflamed tissue temporarily
- Activity modification to allow the tissue to heal without re-aggravating it
When is surgery considered?
Surgery is a last resort, not a first step.
- More than 90% of patients improve with nonsurgical heel spurs treatment
- Surgery is typically discussed only after 9 to 12 months without improvement
- Surgical options include releasing the plantar fascia or removing the spur itself
- Recovery involves a boot, rest, and gradual return to weight-bearing activity
Related: Joint Pain Treatments
Why Patients Trust RxWellness With Their Foot Pain
RxWellness Spine & Health has ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for three consecutive years, reaching No. 1523 in 2025 with 286% revenue growth. That growth reflects the consistent results our patients experience with conditions like heel bone spurs and plantar fasciitis.
Our founder, Dr. Philip Golinsky, was named a Top Chiropractor on ABC7’s Good Morning Washington Top Docs series, recognizing his natural, patient-centered approach. Our COO and Co-Founder, Phoebe Casey, earned a spot on the WPO Women2Watch List at No. 9, reflecting the leadership behind every clinic we operate.
Heel pain doesn’t have to be your new normal. If you’re dealing with bone spurs in the heel, our multidisciplinary team can help you get ahead of them. We use a hands-on, conservative approach to heel spurs treatment that works for most patients without surgery. Call the nearest RxWellness Spine & Health clinic or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can heel bone spurs go away without treatment?
Heel bone spurs don’t dissolve on their own once they’ve formed. However, the pain and inflammation around bone spurs in the heel can resolve significantly with proper heel spurs treatment. Many patients with confirmed spurs become fully pain-free through consistent conservative care.
How long does it take for heel spurs treatment to work?
Most patients notice meaningful improvement within a few weeks of consistent heel spurs treatment. Full recovery from bone spurs in the heel can take anywhere from a few months to nearly a year, depending on severity. Starting care earlier generally leads to a faster and smoother outcome.
Is it OK to keep walking with bone spurs in the heel?
Walking isn’t automatically harmful when you have bone spurs in the heel. The key is addressing what causes heel spurs to flare, including poor shoe support and gait problems. Supportive footwear and guided stretching can make everyday walking manageable while you recover.
Can chiropractic care help with bone spurs in the heel?
Yes, chiropractic care is one of the most effective nonsurgical options for bone spurs in the heel. Adjustments correct alignment in the foot and lower extremity, which reduces chronic strain on the plantar fascia. Paired with orthotics and stretching, it’s a solid foundation for long-term heel spurs treatment.
What’s the difference between plantar fasciitis and heel bone spurs?
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the connective tissue band running along your foot’s bottom. Heel bone spurs are bony calcium growths on the calcaneus that develop in response to that chronic stress. Treating the plantar fasciitis typically resolves the pain tied to bone spurs in the heel.
Does body weight affect what causes heel spurs to develop?
Yes, body weight is one of the most significant factors in what causes heel spurs. A BMI above 30 roughly doubles the risk of developing plantar fasciitis and bone spurs in the heel, per PMC research. Managing weight through activity and nutrition reduces the biomechanical load on your heel significantly.
What footwear is best for bone spurs in the heel?
If you have bone spurs in the heel, you need shoes with strong arch support and real cushioning underfoot. Flat, unsupportive shoes worsen the strain that’s behind what causes heel spurs to become painful. Custom orthotics fitted to your foot structure are often part of an effective heel spurs treatment plan.
Key Takeaways
- What causes heel spurs is repeated strain on the plantar fascia and the heel bone over time.
- Heel bone spurs are calcium deposits on the underside of the calcaneus, usually built up over months.
- Bone spurs in the heel frequently develop alongside plantar fasciitis, but the two are distinct conditions.
- About 50% of plantar fasciitis patients also have heel spurs, according to NIH research.
- More than 15% of the general population has a heel spur with no pain at all.
- Obesity, flat feet, prolonged standing, and poor footwear are key risk factors.
- First-step morning heel pain is a strong sign of bone spurs in the heel tied to plantar fasciitis.
- Heel spurs treatment always starts with conservative, nonsurgical approaches.
- Chiropractic care, custom orthotics, soft tissue therapy, and stretching are all proven tools.
- More than 90% of patients improve without surgery when they commit to consistent heel spurs treatment.
- Surgery is only considered after months of conservative care without meaningful progress.
Wrapping Up: What Causes Heel Spurs and How Are They Treated?
So, what causes heel spurs? They develop when repeated mechanical stress on the calcaneus triggers calcium buildup over time. Plantar fasciitis is almost always the underlying driver. The good news is that bone spurs in the heel respond well to conservative care. Most patients don’t need surgery.
At RxWellness, our heel spurs treatment approach looks at your alignment, gait, and daily habits. We address what causes heel spurs at the root level, not just the symptoms. With the right plan, you can get back to moving comfortably.
Stop letting bone spurs in the heel limit your day. Our multidisciplinary team combines chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and targeted exercise to give you a real path forward. We accept major insurance plans including Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Schedule your consultation online or find the RxWellness location nearest you to get started.