What are Bone Spurs?

6 August 2015

Bone Spurs, also known as Osteophytes, are bony growths that form next to joints. They can be found all around the body, not just on the foot. At Shoe Insoles, we have a range of high quality orthotics to help deal with Heel Spurs.

Despite sounding gruesome – they are essentially extra bone growing from the bones you already have - Bone Spurs don’t always have symptoms and it’s perfectly possible to go without even knowing you have one. If hip or knee spurs do start to aggravate the surrounding tissue, though, you might find your entire gait changed, which spells misfortune for the future of your feet.

What Brings on Bone Spurs?

Inflammation of the joint is generally the starting point of any bone spur, and the start of inflammation can be caused by a huge range of factors. In your knees and hips there’s a very high chance that swelling and pain is directly because of how you’ve been walking or running:

High activity: Sportsmen and women are more likely to develop spurs of any kind as they develop more quickly the more your joints move. With every movement of the joint, another calcium deposit is made, if you demand more from your joints, you spurs will demand greater growth.

Punishing foot wear: Wearing poorly-fitting shoes is the first step in an unfortunate chain of events that can lead to spurs. Poorly aligned feet means poorly aligned knees and hips, causing them to work harder, twist more, and ultimately suffer from spurs. Even if you escape this fate, Plantar Fasciitis or Metatarsalgia are always ready to strike when you put a shoe look over comfort, and the struggle of living with these painful conditions can start this chain reaction all over again!

Bone spurs from birth: Rarely, bone spurs occur at birth, as symptoms are not always a given, even these types of spurs do not always require treatment.

Age: Ligaments naturally loosen with age, leading to joints being less stable than before, ligaments begin to thicken in order to compensate for this loosening and bone spurs often follow.

Injuries: Sudden impact to a joint that leads to inflammation can create bone spurs.

Poor posture: Back to condemning your feet again, poor shoes equal poor posture, poor posture equals bone spurs. Escape this equation of foot ailments by wearing suitable shoes!

Spur-adic Symptoms

Spurs can be temperamental, they can grow without giving you any sign that they are there. On the other end of the spectrum, they may hit on a nerve and cause disabling pain. Or they might even fluctuate between one and the other! The following symptoms may suggest that you have a bony growth on your hands…or feet, or hips:

A pins-and-needles pain
Numbness
A sense of weakness in the affected area
A pulsing ache
A sharp pain

Spare Yourself from Spurs

Stop spurs from making themselves known with suitable shoes — yes, it’s our favourite piece of advice, because it’s also our most useful. The health of your entire lower body and your spine can easily be thrown out by an unpleasant pair of shoes, so be warned and be clever when it comes to picking your shoes!

Prevent bone spurs or treat heel spurs that are already there with a suitable insole, your feet may not seem like the most important aspect of your health, but you’ll definitely miss it when it’s gone.

Visit Shoe Insoles for a range of Bone Spur insoles.