Achilles Heel Spur

This painful condition is often related to the chronic tugging of a tight achilles tendon on the heel bone calcaneus.

Achilles heel spur.

On an x ray a heel spur can extend forward by as much as a half inch. Heel spurs themselves usually cause no symptoms. Problems with the achilles tendon can also result in bone spurs also known as retrocalcaneal exostosis. Nevertheless they can be associated with heel pain and tenderness of the tissues adjacent to the spur such as on the bottom of the heel or the back of the heel where the ligament plantar fascia or achilles tendon attach.

When the tendon is overly tight it can pull on the heel bone resulting in a spur. Heel spurs can be located at the back of the heel or under the heel beneath the arch of the foot. Insertional achilles tendonitis affects the back of the heel where the achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone. Achilles tendonitis occurs when the tendon that attaches the calf muscles to the heel becomes painful or inflamed.

See achilles tendonitis and tendon injuries. An achilles tendon bone spur can be caused due to overgrowth of bony tissue at the point of insertion of the achilles tendon with the heel bone. This condition usually affects the retrocalcaneal bursa which is a fluid filled sac located near the heel where the calf muscle attaches to the heel bone. The first step of treatment is to reduce inflammation.

Common causes include exercising without a proper warm up and playing sports that. In many cases the condition results in the growth of additional bone and scar tissue in the achilles tendon also known as tendinosis. The bone spur gradually develops around the tendon where it inserts into attaches to the bone. If a bone spur near the achilles tendon rubs on nearby tissues it can lead to bursitis in the heel area.

Without visible x ray evidence. The achilles tendon and the inflammation at the joint area are other factors that contribute to heel spur formation. A heel spur is a calcium deposit causing a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. The bone spur can irritate the achilles tendon potentially causing more tendon damage.

With a contraction of the calf muscles which is needed for walk run or jump the achilles tendon stretches causing a friction at the surface of a heel bone.