Physiotherapeutic procedures in the treatment of heel spurs are focused primarily on stimulating blood circulation. There are several key physical therapy techniques for heel spurs:
Shock wave therapy is a treatment method for heel spurs used in all clinics. A positive effect is noted by 8-9 people out of 10.
Laser is one of the most popular techniques that accelerates biochemical processes, improves blood flow and resolves osteophytes.
X-ray therapy does not remove the growth itself, but relieves inflammation, reducing pain and discomfort in the heels.
Heel pads are not only a means of preventing heel spurs, but also a means that can stop the development of the disease.
Orthopedic insoles are a mandatory measure in the complex treatment of heel spurs, prescribed by all doctors without exception.
A patch for the treatment of heel spurs only complements the main treatment and can only provide minor relief.
Injections are medicinal injections into the heel that quickly and permanently relieve pain and inflammation.
Diprospan is an anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of heel spurs with immediate effect.
Hydrocortisone is used to relieve pain in the heel and reduce swelling, and is often used in conjunction with ultrasound therapy.
Medicines and drugs - relieve pain, reduce inflammation and relieve swelling of heel spurs.
Plantar fasciitis or heel spur, for which physiotherapy is used quite often, is one of the most common diseases today. In this case, pain symptoms are quite often present. The physiotherapeutic approach has positive reviews. The majority of patients who resorted to this particular treatment noted regression of the disease.
A heel spur occurs as a result of pathological growth of bone tissue, as a result of calcium metabolism disorders. Pain increases when moving after a long rest. As the arch of the foot develops, symptoms decrease. Physiotherapy is almost the main method of treatment aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with this pathology.
Additionally, special orthopedic shoes are often used, which speeds up the healing process. In this case, insoles under the heels are often used to reduce pain symptoms. Of course, in order to get rid of pathology forever, it is necessary to approach treatment comprehensively.
Physiotherapy for heel spurs always gives positive results. Currently, methods based on the influence of an electric or magnetic field are increasingly used. The main thing in the treatment of heel spurs is to relieve the inflammatory process.
The most common procedures in this case are methods based on the effects of laser, magnetic and electric fields. The use of such treatment methods can reduce pain and speed up fascial recovery. Electrophoresis helps create a special depot, in which medicinal substances penetrate deeper into the tissues faster.
Physiotherapy is complemented by effective UHF therapy. In this case, the affected area is exposed to high-frequency current with low voltage. This approach allows you to reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process. The procedure is carried out using a special device that causes subtle vibrations. When exposed to UHF, the following occurs:
After the course of treatment, foot mobility improves.
An additional physiotherapeutic method of treatment is laser therapy. This method is currently considered one of the most effective. Patient reviews are only positive. Many of them notice positive dynamics after just a few sessions.
When exposed to laser, regeneration processes are activated. Advantages of this method:
With increased blood flow, the pathological growth occurs. The accumulation of calcium salts in the fascia area is eliminated, thereby improving the mobility of the arch of the foot. This treatment method is often combined with the use of a magnetic field. The general condition is normalized, pain and inflammation go away.
With the help of a laser, it is possible to get rid of the disease forever.
Treating heel spurs with an alternating or constant magnetic field is very effective. In this case, special equipment is used, which makes it possible to influence the affected area, changing the physical and chemical parameters of tissues.
The advantages of using magnetic therapy are:
Usually the procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes. Most often, 10 sessions or more are prescribed, depending on the degree of damage. After the course of treatment, positive dynamics are observed: growths dissolve, swelling is eliminated, pain disappears.
This physical therapy treatment helps to increase the mobility of the foot. It is absolutely safe and does not cause discomfort. It is used in individuals even with a significant weakening of the body's defenses.
Contraindications to magnetic therapy:
The doctor must be informed of all possible contraindications so as not to cause harm to health.
It is not always easy to cure such a disease. Pain in the heel area in this case sometimes reaches its peak intensity. This raises the question of how to get rid of unpleasant symptoms in a short time. Phonophoresis is based on the influence of double ultrasonic waves.
There is a decrease in the inflammatory process. When using this method, glucocorticoid ointment Hydrocortisone is used. It allows you to get rid of pain and inflammation by creating a depot through which medicinal substances penetrate directly into the affected area.
Treatment of heel spurs with physical therapy can reduce the risk of discomfort during the procedure to nothing. Phonophoresis is a non-invasive technique. There are practically no side effects.
Of course, this method of treatment is not used during pregnancy or if diseases of the endocrine system are present. Another equally effective technique is electrophoresis. It is based on the action of a low-pulse current, which delivers medicinal substances deep into the tissues.
The device has 2 electrodes, which are plates. During the procedure, one of them is moistened in the medicine and applied to the affected area. Galvanic current promotes the penetration of ions into tissues. Along with them, medicinal substances are also absorbed.
Electrophoresis is not used to treat people with high blood pressure, bronchial asthma and malignant tumors. Hydrocortisone, Novocaine and potassium iodide are used as medications. The substances gradually accumulate and create a prolonged effect.
Plantar fasciitis (heel spur) is a common musculoskeletal disorder. The cause of pain is chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia (aponeurosis), which develops due to its systematic traumatization. In the complex treatment of heel spurs, physiotherapy is widely used to eliminate inflammation.
What is this treatment method and what type of it is used in the treatment of plantar fasciitis? Does physical therapy help with heel spurs and how effective is each treatment method? What is the therapeutic effect of different types of physiotherapeutic equipment based on? Below we will answer these questions.
Physiotherapy (synonym - physical therapy) translated from Greek physis - nature, therapeia - treatment. This area of medicine studies a combination of physical treatments. Physiotherapy includes the following sections.
In the treatment of heel spurs, physiotherapy is used mainly in the form of electrotherapy. It involves the impact of devices using the energy of a magnetic or electric field on the source of inflammation. The principle of treating heel spurs is to eliminate inflammation of the aponeurosis. And one of the effective ways to relieve inflammation is physical therapy.
There are different types of physical therapy for heel spurs. Hardware treatment is used primarily for the conservative treatment of heel spurs. Magnetic therapy, laser therapy, electrophoresis with various medications (Novocain, potassium iodide) are widely used.
Along with these types of physiotherapy, a new type of device is used, which is used in surgery and is an alternative to surgical intervention. The new generation device is represented by a shock wave therapy (shock wave therapy) device. Physiotherapy is effectively used in complex treatment to relieve inflammation and reduce pain.
When treating heel spurs using physiotherapy methods, ultrasound is used. It is used in UHF (ultra high frequency) apparatus. The operating principle of UHF is the effect on human tissue of high frequency and low voltage current. This old, proven method of physiotherapy helps well with inflammatory processes of various localizations. UHF is also used in orthopedics to treat heel spurs. The action of ultrasonic waves is based on microvibration of tissues.
Under the influence of this physiotherapy in the treatment of heel spurs, the following effects are achieved:
As a result of ultrasound exposure, inflammation of the plantar fascia resolves. This leads to the elimination of pain and an increase in the range of movements of the foot. After a course of physical therapy, patients feel great relief and reduction in pain in the heel spur area.
Laser treatment has now become the most popular type of physical therapy for plantar fasciitis. The effectiveness of this method is recognized by both doctors and patients. With the help of laser therapy, human tissue is exposed to electromagnetic radiation in the optical range. A laser is a beam of light of a certain wavelength with a low degree of scattering. Under the influence of rays on the soft tissue in the area of the heel spur, the process of regeneration and cell renewal begins.
The mechanism of laser action is as follows:
Under the influence of the laser, blood circulation increases, thanks to which the inflammation of the aponeurosis actively resolves. The release of calcium from the places of its accumulation in the aponeurosis improves the elastic properties of the plantar fascia. Thanks to this, the kinetics of the foot is restored.
As a result of physical therapy using a laser, pain in the heel spur area is noticeably reduced, swelling is reduced, and the range of motion of the foot increases. While walking, tension in the leg muscles is relieved. For greater efficiency, the laser is used in a combined technique with a low-voltage magnetic field. With professional treatment, quantum therapy can lead to complete healing of heel spurs.
Treatment uses devices with a constant or alternating magnetic field. Low-frequency alternating fields have found the greatest application in this type of physiotherapy. The magnetic field generates a U-shaped inductor that affects the area of inflammation. Under the influence of this type of physiotherapy, the physicochemical properties of tissues change in such a way that protein molecules are distributed along the lines of force.
This leads to the following effects:
The procedure lasts 10–20 minutes, 15–20 sessions are performed per course. After a course of magnetic therapy, inflammation of the aponeurosis resolves and tissue swelling decreases. The range of movements in the joints increases. The patient regains pain-free walking. This method of physiotherapy does not cause discomfort and is easily tolerated at any age. It can be used in weakened patients. Magnetic therapy treatment can be performed at home using portable devices.
Physiotherapy using this method is contraindicated in cases of bleeding, acute inflammation, or low blood pressure. Physiotherapy using a magnetic field is not indicated for cardiac arrhythmia. Magnetic therapy is not used in the early period after stroke and myocardial infarction.
This heel spur physical therapy method uses the dual action of ultrasound. Some kind of exposure is required for the drug to penetrate the affected area through the skin. Ultrasound is the transporter of medicine to the site of inflammation. The phonophoresis technique uses the hormonal ointment “Hydrocortisone”. It is applied to the area of the heel spur, after which it is exposed to an ultrasonic emitter for 2–5 minutes. Ultrasonic waves themselves also have an anti-inflammatory effect. The therapeutic effect of this procedure is also based on the thermal effect.
Phonophoresis with Hydrocortisone is equivalent in effectiveness to blocking the heel spur with this drug. In addition, this method of physical therapy has great benefits. Firstly, it is non-invasive and therefore painless. Secondly, administering Hydrocortisone in this manner eliminates the risk of rupture of the plantar fascia that exists with a blockade. Therefore, it is better to use physical therapy than to treat heel spurs with injections in the heel.
The physiotherapy technique is simple to perform, painless, and does not require hospitalization. The effectiveness of phonophoresis has been proven by its long-term use for heel spurs.
This type of physiotherapy has some contraindications. The procedure is not prescribed for thyrotoxicosis and diabetes mellitus, high or low blood pressure. Phonophoresis is also contraindicated during pregnancy.
Another type of physical treatment for heel spurs is electrophoresis (iontophoresis). The method is based on the use of low-voltage electrical pulses to deliver the drug to the heel spur area. The electrophoresis apparatus uses two electrodes in the form of plates wrapped in cloth. One of the plates is moistened with some kind of medicine.
When the device is connected to the network, galvanic current causes the movement of positively and negatively charged particles. Since the electrodes are located on opposite sides of the heel spur, medications are delivered to the area of inflammation along with ions.
In the treatment of heel spurs with this method of physiotherapy, medications are used: Novocaine, potassium iodide or Hydrocortisone. During electrophoresis, the administered drugs have an anti-inflammatory effect directly in the area of attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, that is, at the site of inflammation. Thanks to this, the effectiveness of the drugs increases. In addition, drugs accumulate at the site of inflammation and have a slow but constant effect. Thus, physical therapy eliminates inflammation of the plantar fascia, which reduces pain.
Electrophoresis is contraindicated for hypertension, bronchial asthma, and cancer.
Another type of physical therapy that is used in the treatment of heel spurs is shock wave therapy (SWT). This physical therapy method is a safe and effective way to treat heel spurs.
The UVT device generates a pulse that is converted into an acoustic sound wave of a certain length, the parameters of which are similar to shock waves. The method of exposure to acoustic waves is based on stimulation of restoration processes in the area of inflammation. Waves develop maximum energy impact in the pathological focus due to mechanical, physico-chemical and thermal energy. The peculiarity of the action of the waves is that they pass through soft tissues, but are retained in the dense calcified areas of the plantar fascia, as well as in the bone outgrowth - the heel spur, which causes its fragmentation.
The mechanism of action of shock wave therapy is as follows:
The operating principle of UVT is intensive micromassage. The aponeurosis, freed from calcium salts, restores its elastic properties, thereby improving the biomechanics of the foot. The pain syndrome decreases after the first shock wave therapy procedure. A small spur is destroyed in one session. It will take several sessions to destroy a large exostosis.
Important! Although shockwave therapy quickly relieves pain, this method does not eliminate the cause of the disease. Therefore, after the procedure, it is necessary to apply preventive measures - wearing orthopedic insoles and eliminating the cause of the disease.
The effectiveness of shock wave therapy is approximately 90% and is comparable to surgery. But this method of physiotherapy is used only after other methods of conservative treatment have proven ineffective.
Shock wave therapy is contraindicated for thrombophlebitis, cancer, and implanted built-in devices. This type of physiotherapy is not performed for acute viral infections.
Analyzing the above, let's summarize. Physiotherapy is the main type of conservative treatment for heel spurs. Various types of equipment are used that use the energy of an electric or magnetic field, as well as a laser. Some types of physical therapy apply anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications to the heel spur. Physiotherapy is effectively used to eliminate inflammation of the plantar fascia and reduce foot pain.
Heel spur (plantar fasciitis) is a disease that causes a lot of problems for its “owner”. Treatment of heel spurs is a complex process that includes medications, physiotherapy and even surgical methods. Physiotherapy can not only eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but also cure it, preventing relapses.
What methods are most effective in dealing with this problem. Physiotherapy for heel spurs can be aimed at achieving two effects - improving the penetration of drugs into the site of inflammation, or increasing blood circulation and microcirculation.
Both of these effects cause anti-inflammatory, analgesic and absorbable effects. For better administration of medications: phonophoresis using ultrasound and electrophoresis. Improving microcirculation and resorption: ultrasound treatment, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, magnetic therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, EHF, thermal hydrotherapy, mud therapy as auxiliary methods.
Using ultrasound, this method increases and accelerates several times the penetration of drugs into body tissues. Usually combined with traditional treatment, because... wave oscillations not only transport the medicine, but also have a warming, analgesic and microcirculation-enhancing effect.
The procedure is carried out as follows: a medicine is applied to the area above the heel spur (directly on the skin if it is a gel or on a gauze pad if it is a solution), for example, hydrocortisone, then this area is exposed to an ultrasound emitter. The exposure time for one zone is up to 5 minutes. The course includes up to 12 procedures.
Like any treatment, phonophoresis has its contraindications. Among them are arterial hypertension, malignant neoplasms of any location, diabetes mellitus, thrombophlebitis, severe atherosclerosis, and the presence of a pacemaker.
This type of treatment for heel spurs is very similar to the previous one, but galvanic electric current is used to deliver therapeutic substances. They use dosage forms that can be converted into ions and penetrate through the sebaceous and sweat glands. In addition to the effect directly during the procedure, there is also a prolonged effect due to the formation of an intradermal drug depot.
Treatment is carried out by placing two electrodes on gauze pads soaked in a medicinal solution. The medicine can be administered from one or two electrodes. The procedure lasts up to 20 minutes, during which the patient should feel a slight tingling sensation at the site of the electric shock. The most commonly used current is between 5 and 20 mA, depending on the type of medication and individual sensitivity.
Contraindications: purulent-inflammatory processes, skin damage at the site of exposure, individual intolerance to electrophoresis or the medications used.
One of the youngest and most promising types of physiotherapy provides targeted effects using a concentrated beam of light. Causes acceleration of cellular metabolism, tissue repair and renewal processes. Clinically, the effect is manifested in eliminating pain and stopping ossification in the heel. In order for laser therapy to start “working,” it may take from 2 to 10 sessions.
Depending on the number of pain points, the duration of a heel spur laser treatment session ranges from 5 to 20 minutes. The number of sessions varies individually, but usually the course is at least 10 daily procedures. The patient does not experience pain during physiotherapy.
There are not many contraindications, including acute viral diseases, tuberculosis, the first trimester of pregnancy, malignant diseases and a tendency to bleed.
Shock wave therapy (SWT) is physical therapy using sound waves of a certain frequency and amplitude. The mechanism of action is to cause microtrauma to the tissue, which activates metabolic processes and the formation of a capillary network. Improving blood circulation promotes the resorption of calcium deposits, which significantly improves the condition of patients. The ligaments of the foot restore elasticity and reduce pain when walking.
SWT is not performed as often as other procedures. Usually 1 session is prescribed every 5-7 days, the course duration is up to 5 sessions. The impact is carried out using an emitter through a special gel.
Contraindications: ARVI, malignant neoplasms, skin damage at the site of exposure, first trimester of pregnancy, presence of a pacemaker.
Treatment with a magnetic field improves the processes of local metabolism in the tissue, improves the resorption of infiltrates and eliminates swelling. Low frequency alternating magnetic currents are mainly used. The advantage of the procedure is that it can be prescribed to frail and elderly patients and is better tolerated than many other types of physiotherapy.
The duration of treatment is up to 20 daily sessions of 10-20 minutes. During the procedure, the patient does not experience any unpleasant sensations; exposure to magnets usually does not cause subjective sensations.
Contraindications: ARVI, purulent infections, pacemaker, arrhythmia, severe forms of coronary heart disease and arterial hypotension.
For heel spurs, types of treatment such as mud therapy, treatment with baths with salt solutions or herbal decoctions can also be useful. These methods are mainly recommended as prevention of recurrence of heel spurs or as adjuvant therapy between courses of drug treatment. Compresses made from warm mud, bischofite, foot baths with mineral water, infusion of celandine, chamomile and calendula are used. Courses are usually long - up to 20 procedures.
Thus, physical therapy is an effective way to eliminate plantar fasciitis. These procedures can help both at the very beginning of the disease and for the treatment of an already old process, so there is no need to refuse such treatment if the doctor recommends it.
Many people suffering from heel spur pain benefit from various types of physical therapy treatments. Both old proven and new methods are effective, and the number of the latter is constantly growing. Let's consider the most popular physiotherapy procedures that are indicated for this disease.
The term “phonophoresis” literally means “to carry through sound.” The method uses the property of ultrasonic waves to significantly improve the penetration of medicinal substances into the thickness of tissues. Ultrasonic vibrations not only deliver medicine to hard-to-reach areas, but also provide a kind of massage, causing blood flow and warming up. Thanks to this, it is possible to relieve inflammation and achieve an excellent analgesic effect.
The method works as follows: first, the medicine is applied directly to the painful area in the heel area, and then it is exposed to it using an ultrasonic emitter. Irradiation of one zone lasts from 2 to 5 minutes, then the emitter is moved to another zone. The entire effect lasts up to 10 minutes. The number of sessions in one course of treatment is 8-12.
Physiotherapy with ultrasound is not prescribed for high and low blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, severe atherosclerosis, thyrotoxicosis, certain diseases of the nervous system, and thrombophlebitis.
Phonophoresis is considered a very effective way to relieve pain from spurs. Its main advantages are simplicity and short exposure time. Phonophoresis does not eliminate bone growth, but often this is not required.
Lasers generate highly targeted electromagnetic radiation in the optical range. When treating heel spurs, the laser has an analgesic effect and prevents further formation of ossifications - areas of pathological ossification in the heel.
Laser irradiation of sufficient power causes photochemical reactions in tissues. As scientific research has shown, under the influence of a laser, the energy activity of cell membranes changes, enzyme systems and regeneration are stimulated, and oxygen consumption in tissues increases.
To influence the area of the heel spur, external irradiation is used in the area of the projection of the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, as well as pain areas determined by the doctor by palpating the heel area.
Depending on the course of the disease, a laser beam in the red or near-infrared range is used. A helium-neon laser with a wavelength of 0.6238 microns or a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 0.813 microns is used. Before the procedure, the skin in the affected areas is degreased with a 70% ethanol solution. For maximum effectiveness, laser therapy sessions are carried out in a darkened room. Irradiation during one session lasts 5-20 minutes. On average, 10 sessions are prescribed, with a maximum of 20. It is better to perform the procedures daily. Sometimes, after several days of treatment, an exacerbation of the disease occurs, in which case diuretics and vitamin C are prescribed. The next course is carried out according to indications, no earlier than after 2-4 weeks.
Laser treatment has virtually no side effects, including no allergic reactions, and in many cases allows for a gradual reduction in the use of medications. Laser therapy is completely painless, and its therapeutic effect lasts for a long time. Laser treatment is contraindicated for acute respiratory viral infections and other infections, tuberculosis, syphilis, bleeding tendency, as well as in the first half of pregnancy if there is a threat of miscarriage.
The idea of shock wave therapy belongs to an American doctor in the 50s. XX century Reiber. The essence of the method is to use the destructive effect of sound waves of a certain amplitude and frequency on living tissue. During exposure, tissue microtraumas occur, which activate recovery processes, including the formation of a new capillary network. Activation of blood circulation, in turn, improves cell nutrition. But the main advantage of shock wave therapy is that it has a special effect on bone growths - osteophytes, stimulating the process of decalcification. Deposits of calcium salts in the ligaments of the foot are loosened and removed through the bloodstream, as a result of which the ligaments restore their normal structure and elasticity.
On average, up to 5 sessions of shock wave therapy are prescribed per course. A break of 5-7 days is required between sessions. The duration of one session is 15-20 minutes. A special gel is applied to the skin of the heel, the effect is carried out using an emitter. Treatment with the UVT method is well tolerated by patients and leads to a pronounced positive effect.
Contraindications to treatment with shock wave therapy include oncological and infectious diseases, injuries and some skin diseases, acute injuries, blood clotting disorders, diabetes mellitus, collagenosis, and pregnancy. A special contraindication is the presence of a pacemaker.
The principle of using shockwave therapy for heel spurs was developed relatively recently, but the method has already shown itself to be very promising.
Magnetic fields have long been used to treat and prevent diseases. The most successful was the use of low-frequency alternating magnetic fields. Under the influence of a magnetic field, tissue elements such as water or blood cells become magnetized. Weak currents are formed in the blood and lymph, which affect metabolism, as well as the structure of water and proteins. Vascular and skin permeability increases, swelling resolves, and inflammation decreases.
A magnetic field with specified parameters is created using a U-shaped electromagnet-inductor, which is applied directly to the foot. Usually, daily sessions lasting 10-20 minutes are prescribed, with a total of up to 20 procedures in one course of treatment.
Magnetic therapy does not cause heating or irritation of the skin, gives good results in weakened and elderly patients and can be used in many cases when other physical procedures are contraindicated.
The method is not prescribed for those with a tendency to bleeding, acute and purulent inflammation, severely low blood pressure, severe forms of coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, in the early period after heart attacks and strokes, cancer, aneurysms of large vessels, and pregnancy.
Drug electrophoresis is a method of delivering drugs using direct electric current. Medicines penetrate into tissues through the ducts of the sebaceous and sweat glands. Electric current increases ionic activity in conducting tissues, and the synthesis of many biologically active substances increases. The therapeutic effect is due to the intake of ions of medicinal substances (it is in the ionic form that the substances are most active), as well as the formation of a skin depot, from which the ions gradually enter the tissues in the following days.
For electrophoresis, special pads impregnated with medicine are used. The pads are placed between the heel skin and the electrode plates. The electrodes are placed transversely in the area of the affected heel, and the medicine is administered from one or both electrodes. Exposure time is 15-20 minutes at a current strength of 5-20 mA. The procedures are done daily or every other day, a total of 10-15 sessions are prescribed. During an electrophoresis session, the patient feels a characteristic weak tingling sensation, “goosebumps.” If a burning sensation occurs, the intensity of exposure should be reduced.
The advantage of electrophoresis is that the administered medications are much less likely to cause side effects and do not irritate the stomach. However, not all drugs can be administered in this way. Some substances are destroyed by electric current, others are poorly soluble. In addition, it is impossible to accurately calculate the dosage of the medicine.
Contraindications to electrophoresis are acute purulent inflammation, severe skin lesions or skin damage in the area of exposure. Individual intolerance to electric current occurs. The tolerability of specific medications must also be taken into account.
In the treatment of heel spurs, several other physical procedures are also used, which also help reduce inflammation and pain. This is ultraviolet irradiation (UVR), EHF therapy, hydrotherapy in the form of warm baths or baths with medicinal substances. Natural-based drugs are also used - orthopedic patches.
Modern medicine uses an extensive arsenal of physiotherapeutic methods that are effective in treating heel spurs. Physiotherapy is aimed at reducing pain and inflammation in the heel. The shock wave therapy method directly affects bone growths and helps to reduce or even resolve them.
Author: administrator 11/06/2014
The main principle of treating heel spurs is to eliminate the inflammatory process. Heel spur: Physiotherapy is aimed at solving this problem.
This disease occurs when ligaments and muscles are sprained. Therefore, there is a high probability of developing heel spurs in athletes and runners. The risk of disease increases rapidly under the following conditions:
A patient suffering from this disease experiences severe pain in the heel. It occurs due to injury or pressure from bone formation on the tissue of the foot. Doctors note that the pain is not caused by the tubercle, but by inflamed tissue in the area of the corresponding bone. The intensity of the pain depends on various factors, including the location of the growth. People with flat and small spurs often complain of severe pain. The strength of the pain syndrome depends on the proximity of the bone tubercle to the nerve ending.
Doctors identify several methods for treating heel spurs, including UHF therapy. This method involves the use of high frequency alternating current and low voltage and power. The influence of these currents leads to the expansion of capillaries in soft tissues and increased blood circulation. This reduces pain and inflammation. The duration of one session is 10-15 minutes. To cure a spur on the heel, the doctor prescribes about 10-12 sessions of UHF therapy.
Another equally popular therapy is laser technology. This type of physiotherapy treatment is in great demand among doctors and patients. The main principle of its effect is identical to other methods of physiotherapy. The laser helps to increase blood circulation at the site of the inflammatory process, which significantly reduces pain. Some patients are confident that this method allows them to get rid of spurs. However, a low-intensity laser beam, penetrating the spur, does not have any particular effect on the bone growth. The effect of this technique is reflected in soft tissues.
Physiotherapy for heel spurs involves magnetic therapy. This method can be permanent or variable. Doctors often prescribe an alternating magnetic field to patients. This technique allows you to achieve the same results as UHF therapy.
Heel spurs can also be treated using electrophoresis. This technique involves administering a medicinal substance to the site of tissue damage and inflammation. The principle of this method is that in the area of pathology, metal plates are placed in the tissues, one of which is wrapped in tissue, which is pre-wetted with the drug.
Galvanic current is then applied to the plates. Particles with a positive charge move from one plate to another, and negatively charged particles move from the second to the first. The drug also enters the tissues. For heel spurs, potassium iodide, hydrocortisone, novocaine and other drugs are used for this purpose.
Doctors also include phonophoresis as a physical therapy for this disease, which involves using ultrasound to penetrate drugs deep into the soft tissues. In this case, ultrasound is therapeutic in nature, having a positive effect on inflammatory tissues. Phonophoresis is performed using anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, hydrocortisone ointment.
Plantar fasciitis or heel spur is a disease in which, due to mechanical irritation when walking, inflammation of the periosteum begins, resulting in pain in the heel area. A heel spur can form at any age.
In older people, its appearance is associated with age-related changes, in young people - with increased stress or active sports. Most often, women who often wear high-heeled shoes suffer from the disease. Unnatural constant loads on the foot lead to the formation of spurs.
The most common symptom of the disease is a burning, acute pain that occurs when putting weight on the heel. This pain occurs due to the fact that the bone formation presses on the soft tissue. At the same time, the intensity of pain does not depend on the size and shape of the growth.
Sometimes small, flat spurs hurt much more than larger lesions. The intensity of pain is more related to the location of the spur. The closer it is to the nerve endings, the stronger the pain when pressing on the heel.
If the disease is not treated, then soon the pain will begin to appear even without load. This is explained by the formation of scar tissue at the site of injury and the accumulation of calcium compounds.
Such deposits irritate surrounding tissues, resulting in inflammation and pain . In addition, over time, the fatty tissue on the heel, which acts as a shock absorber, becomes thinner, causing the pain to become even more intense.
One of the main symptoms of heel spurs is pain that occurs after long breaks in movement and when taking the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning. During the day, when walking, the pain subsides, however, after exertion during the day, it reappears in the evening.
The second symptom of a heel spur is a change in gait , which occurs due to the fact that the patient tries to unload the heel area when walking. The patient transfers the center of gravity to the forefoot and the outer edge of the foot.
As a result of such improper distribution of body weight, transverse flat feet are formed. If spurs develop on the heels of both feet, walking becomes especially difficult for the patient.
To cure plantar fasciitis means to remove the inflammatory process and pain. Therefore, first of all, drug and physiotherapeutic treatment . If it is effective, the inflammation around the ligaments will decrease, their elasticity will increase and the pain when walking will go away.
Heel spurs can be cured only through complex treatment , using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, homeopathy and local treatment in the form of compresses and ointments for pain and inflammation.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce vascular permeability, improve blood circulation, and block the action of various chemicals. That is why they are used for swelling, inflammation and pain. Such means include:
Chondroprotectors help speed up the restoration of connective tissue:
All medications are used according to the doctor’s recommendation or the instructions supplied with them.
Doctors place great hope in physiotherapy that can relieve inflammation, swelling and pain. Quite often prescribed:
The laser does not act on the bone growth itself, but on the soft tissues located around the spur, increasing blood circulation in them, which helps eliminate the symptoms of heel spurs. Therefore, patient reviews that the laser beam is good at eliminating the spur itself are misleading. The laser has virtually no effect on bone growth.
To cure a heel spur, you must undergo the entire course of procedures, which on average consists of 10–15 sessions.
Local therapy in the form of various ointments that are applied to the affected area will help relieve pain, inflammation and swelling in the heel area. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help relieve inflammation and pain in the heel :
If anti-inflammatory drugs do not help in the treatment of heel spurs, then the doctor prescribes steroid-based ointments. It can only be used strictly in compliance with all prescriptions and recommendations of a specialist. Hormonal ointments include:
Steroids have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and regulate mineral balance. They help quickly relieve pain and relieve swelling in the heel area.
Treatment with warming ointments will help speed up the removal of toxins and restore the affected areas of the heel tissue . They are applied to the skin of the heel, after which woolen socks are put on to enhance the effect.
As an auxiliary treatment for heel spurs, ointments based on natural ingredients : conrtatubex, Zolotoy usta cream-balm, cinquefoil-based ointment. They improve blood circulation, relieve swelling, soothe heel pain, reduce salt deposits, and increase the elasticity of ligaments.
Heel spurs can be treated not only with medications, but also with folk remedies. There are many recipes for various poultices, compresses, ointments, rubs , which are very effective and can help cure the disease. Traditional medicine recipes:
It will take quite a long time to treat a heel spur. To eliminate the disease, you will need long-term complex treatment using various remedies and therapies. The main thing is not to let the disease progress and consult a doctor in time.
Three years ago I encountered a heel spur problem. It all started with acute pain. It seemed that the sole was studded with needles. At the hospital they took an x-ray, based on which they diagnosed me with a heel spur.
He began to treat with folk remedies. I did various baths, compresses, massages, but there was no result. Since the pain remained, I decided to go to the surgeon. He recommended surgical treatment, which I left as a last resort.
Having learned that a spur on the heel can be cured with shock wave therapy, I decided to try it. This procedure turned out to be very painful and unpleasant, but very effective. After just 5 sessions, the heel spur was almost completely cured. Therefore, in my review I advise everyone that you should not treat the disease only with folk remedies. More effective methods are needed.
In my review I want to write about a folk remedy that helped me cure a heel spur. Some time ago, my heel suddenly began to burn and hurt. I didn’t immediately understand what was wrong, but after feeling the heel I discovered a spur. I began to treat it with an ointment, the recipe for which was given to me by an old grandmother.
To prepare it, you need to melt the butter in a glass, add table vinegar and a chicken egg. There is no need to mix the ingredients. The glass should be wrapped in a towel and covered with a lid. The ointment will be ready in three days. It is applied to gauze and applied to the heel. You should wear a wool sock on top.
As a result of exposure to such an ointment, the skin in the area of the spur first begins to peel off and then heal. The treatment is inexpensive, simple and effective. Just a few procedures will be enough.
Like many people, I had to face this trouble too. I had no idea about such a disease as heel spurs before. I was simply shocked by such severe pain in my heel, especially in the morning. The disease should be treated only after the doctor makes a diagnosis, because the pain can also be caused by various micro-tears and overstrain of the ligaments.
To diagnose, you need to take an x-ray. The doctor prescribed me Nimesil, which quickly relieves pain and other symptoms. Physiotherapy procedures were also prescribed, which turned out to be very effective. In addition, I chose comfortable shoes for myself, abandoning high heels. I do not recommend treating spurs with dubious creams and balms sold in pharmacies.
I am very familiar with the problem of heel spurs, when it is difficult to get up on your feet in the morning due to pain. I tried to treat with various traditional methods, but nothing helped. Then I turned to a traumatologist. On the x-ray, the doctor found two large spurs, after which, without hesitation, he sent me for x-rays.
This procedure is quick and painless. A total of 5 sessions were done. The pain went away quite quickly, I didn’t even notice when. My only concern is that this treatment will not affect my overall health.