Viewer Question

What are the most frequent and infrequent causes of heel spurs?
N.H.

Doctor's Response

Heel spurs are caused by inflammation at the point of insertion of tissues or tendons at the heel bone (calcaneus bone). Inflammation can occur at these sites from injury (such as from the stresses of athletics) or from inflammatory disease (such as reactive arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis).

Inflammation that leads to heel spur formation on the bottom of the heel is called plantar fasciitis. Inflammation that leads to heel spur formation at the back of the heel is called Achilles tendinitis.

Thank you for your question.