Does walking make heel spurs worse?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 06, 2026
Depending on your specific circumstances, walking may help your heel pain, or make it worse. If you experience excruciating pain while walking, try to rest as much as possible until the pain subsides.
What aggravates heel spurs?
Repetitive stress from walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces is a common cause of heel spurs. They may also develop from wearing shoes that don't support your foot.
What is the fastest way to heal a heel spur?
Heel spur treatments
- Ice packs after walking and exercise.
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin.
- Injections of anti-inflammatory medications such as cortisone.
- Stretching exercises, especially before bed.
- Physical therapy.
- Resting your feet.
Can walking cause bone spurs?
A number of other factors can cause deterioration of cartilage, resulting in the growth of a bone spur. Activities that can contribute to bone spurs include dancing, running, and exercise.
What causes heel spurs to flare up?
Heel spurs can happen as a reaction to stress and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. Over time your body responds to the stress by building extra bone tissue. This extra tissue becomes a heel spur. Most people don't feel pain from their heel spur, but when they do, the pain is like plantar fasciitis pain.
37 related questions foundCan you exercise with heel spur?
The bottom line
Consistently doing stretches and exercises can help to reduce pain and inflammation from heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. It's a good idea to continue doing the stretches even once your feet feel better in order to prevent a recurrence.
How do you break up a bone spur?
How are bone spurs treated?
- Ice to reduce swelling.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDS like ibuprofen.
- Rest.
- Supportive shoes or shoe inserts.
- Weight loss to decrease joint and bone stress.
Can losing weight help heel spurs?
Being overweight or obese can increase your chances of developing heel spurs due to the increased pressure on your feet. If you're overweight, losing weight may result in experiencing less foot pain.
How do you dissolve bone spurs naturally?
How to dissolve bone spurs naturally
- 1 – Stretching. Stretching your toes, feet, and ankles can alleviate pressure and strain whether you experience a toe bone spur or a heel bone spur. ...
- 2 – Footwear. ...
- 3 – Ice packs. ...
- 4 – Vitamins and supplements. ...
- 5 – Massage therapy.
Do bone spurs keep growing?
Although the name “spur” suggests something sharp, bone spurs are usually smooth and may or may not cause any symptoms. Over time, a bone spur may continue to grow, leading to painful irritation of surrounding soft tissue like tendons, ligaments or nerves.
Do heel spurs go away without surgery?
The only way to get rid of heel spurs entirely is by having surgery to remove the growths. However, doctors typically reserve surgery for cases that do not respond to any other treatments. According to the AAOS, surgery is a last resort because it can lead to chronic pain.
What happens if a heel spur goes untreated?
For some patients, these deposits don't cause any discomfort. For many more, however, heel spurs can result in significant, even debilitating, pain. Left untreated, spurs in the heel can limit your activity significantly, with many patients unable to bear any weight on the affected foot.
How long do heel spurs last?
More than 90 percent of people get better with nonsurgical treatments. If conservative treatment fails to treat symptoms of heel spurs after a period of 9 to 12 months, surgery may be necessary to relieve pain and restore mobility. Surgical techniques include: Release of the plantar fascia.
Will a walking boot help heel spurs?
Walking Boot: a walking boot on its own won't make a bone spur go away. A walking boot can be worn after surgery or prior to surgery to help take the pressure off the affected area.
Do night splints help heel spurs?
Heel spurs cause pain but you can often get a lot of pain relief by wearing night splints before you go to bed. That's because heel spurs are worsened by tight calf muscles, which can stretch out by wearing night splints.
Is it OK to go walking with plantar fasciitis?
Every patient is different and some patients even receive relief from their symptoms by simply changing shoes. Walking around after lying or sitting for a time may ease plantar fasciitis symptoms as the ligament stretches out.
Do bone spurs in your feet go away?
Unfortunately, bone spurs don't go away on their own.
Daily stretching and low-impact exercises. Dietary changes. Heat and ice therapy. Properly fitted shoes, shoe inserts, walking boots, or custom foot orthotics to alleviate pressure on your foot.
Is massage good for bone spurs?
Massage is a powerful way to release tension and ease pain in your foot and heel. And while it can't cure or completely heal heel spurs, it can be an effective and comforting therapy to add to your routine. To try massage for heel spurs at home, you can use your own hands or a massage ball with gentle pressure.
What does a bone spur in your heel feel like?
Symptoms of heel spurs can include: sharp pain like a knife in the heel when standing up in the morning. a dull ache in the heel throughout the rest of the day. inflammation and swelling at the front of the heel.
What exercises should I avoid with plantar fasciitis?
Worst Exercises for Plantar Fasciitis
- Plyometrics. Plyometric exercises, also called “plyos” or “jump training” is one of the worst exercises for heels and arches that are recovering from plantar fasciitis. ...
- Running or Jogging. ...
- Burpees. ...
- High-Impact Team Sports. ...
- Cardio Dancing and Aerobics.
Does plantar fasciitis go away?
How is Plantar Fasciitis Treated? Although plantar fasciitis is common and can be painful, the good news is that it is usually treatable. Roughly 90% to 95% of plantar fasciitis cases ultimately resolve and usually do not recur.
What does a cortisone shot do for heel spurs?
Cortisone is produced naturally in the body as response to stress. A synthetic version of the hormone may be injected into the side of the heel in order to reduce inflammation. The reduced inflammation significantly reduces pain and provides relief that can last for weeks.
What vitamin is good for bone spurs?
Vitamin K2 plays an important role in joint health. When soft tissue or joints are damaged due to injury or stress, the body responds with inflammation and repair. This process can result in scar tissue accumulation and over many years can build up causing bone spurs and permanent damage.
How painful are bone spurs?
The spurs themselves are not painful. Their effect on nearby structures, such as nerves and the spinal cord, can cause pain. Factors that contribute to bone spurs include aging, heredity, injuries, poor nutrition and poor posture. Treatments can include medication, physical therapy and rest.
Can you run with bone spurs?
Keep your early runs short and easy, and be prepared for sore legs. You will most likely need time and training to adjust your gait to avoid foot injuries. If you already have heel pain or spurs, take time to rest and relieve the inflammation.