Relief for Heel Spurs & Sore Heels

Noticing a stabbing ache or swelling under your heel? PowerStep^® orthotics cushion your step to ease pressure and help prevent worsening heel issues over time.

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Heel (Calcaneal) Spurs & Heel Pain

Heel Spurs Explained

Heel spurs can happen when you have heel pain from plantar fasciitis. Also called calcaneal spurs, these small, bony growths are painless on their own.

They cannot be cured, but orthotic insoles and heel cushions can help ease discomfort and prevent conditions that cause heel spurs including plantar fasciitis.

What Is a Heel Spur?

How Heel Spurs Form and Cause Discomfort

A heel spur is a type of bone spur on the heel bone, or the calcaneus. It is a small, bony growth caused by repetitive strain on the plantar fascia, a ligament connecting the heel to the toes. Your body tries to heal small tears in the ligament, creating calcium deposits that develop over time as heel spurs.

illustration of a calcaneal spur on a foot with plantar fasciitis

Heel spurs do not go away, but they are harmless on their own. Most people will not notice them until they have heel pain from plantar fasciitis. When left untreated, pain may worsen, making it hard to stand, walk, or be active. Treatments like rest, shoe insoles, and heel cushions can help ease symptoms and relieve pain.

Symptoms of a Heel Spur

Heel spurs usually do not have symptoms unless they are related to another foot condition. You might experience pain or discomfort when your heel rubs against something or gets irritated during plantar fasciitis flare ups.

If you have heel pain with heel spurs, it probably feels like plantar fasciitis since the conditions can occur at the same time. A heel spur may be present in one foot or both. They do not go away, but symptoms like pain can be relieved with plantar fasciitis insoles.

Like plantar fasciitis, heel spur symptoms can include:

Sharp or stabbing heel pain
Pain that worsens after standing or walking
Swelling around the heel
Pain in the sole of your foot
Difficulty sleeping due to heel pain

What Causes Heel Spurs?

Repetitive or long-term strain on the ligaments and tissues around the heel can lead to heel spurs. One common cause is participating in high-impact activities like running or various sports that place stress on the heels.

It is important to note that calcaneal spurs and plantar fasciitis are related, but not everyone with plantar fasciitis also gets heel spurs. The best way to prevent bone spurs on your heels and other foot conditions is wearing insoles for heel pain.

Other heel spur causes and risk factors are:

Running on hard surfaces
Wearing ill-fitting shoes that lack support or cushioning
Being overweight
Gait disorders that change how you walk
Having flat feet or high arches
Spending long periods of time on your feet
History of plantar fasciitis

How to Treat Heel Spurs

A healthcare provider or podiatrist can tell if you have a heel spur based on your symptoms, a physical exam, and x-rays. Treated the same way as plantar fasciitis, simple prevention methods like adding insoles to your shoes can help relieve discomfort.

In severe cases when traditional treatment does not work, heel spurs can only be removed with surgery. Heel spur removal surgery is rare, since it is not the source of pain.

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Typical treatment for heel spurs involves:

Taking a break from high impact activities
Applying ice to the bottom of your foot and heel
Using NSAIDs or natural topical pain relievers
Wearing shoe insoles with arch support
Adding cushioned heel inserts to your shoes

Pain Relief & Insoles for Heel Spurs

PowerStep^® insoles combine shock absorption and arch support to relieve heel pain and prevent the aggravation of heel spurs, keeping every step more comfortable.

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Need immediate relief from heel spur pain? PowerStep’s orthopedic insoles for heel spurs feature our clinically proven arch support, deep heel cradle, and premium cushioning to reduce strain, absorb shock, and increase comfort.

Relieve pain and prevent heel spurs with the following best insoles for heel pain:

PowerStep^® Pinnacle Full Length Orthotics

PowerStep^® Pinnacle insoles are the #1 podiatrist-recommended brand of insoles for plantar fasciitis and heel pain.

With our signature arch support, deep heel cradle, and dual-layer cushioning, Pinnacle insoles offer the perfect balance of comfort and support, making them the best insoles for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.

PowerStep is Made in the USA with globally sourced materials

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Man sitting on chair placing PowerStep Pinnacle insoles into dark gray sneakers

Neutral arch support & deep heel cradle: ideal for neutral foot alignment to help support & maintain form. Made in the USA with globally sourced materials.

Relieves & Prevents Pain: Relief of plantar fasciitis, mild to moderate pronation, foot, arch, and heel pain, sore, aching feet. PowerStep is proven clinically effective in improving foot function. Accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Chart with PowerStep Pinnacle dimensions by size. 12 US shoe sizes. Refer to insole diagram indicating measurement locations for data points 1-4. Measurements for data points 5-7 will remain the same across all insole sizes within this family.

Floating Pinnacle Neutral Arch Support Insoles, arch support shoe inserts for women, arch support shoe inserts for men, unisex shoe inserts, insoles for pronation, mild overpronation, neutral arch support for plantar fasciitis, arch support to correct malalignment from pronation

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PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles | Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Relief Orthotic

$54.95

PULSE® Performance Insoles

PowerStep^® PULSE^® Performance insoles help relieve and prevent pain during athletic activities that may cause heel spurs.

Along with our trusted arch support, these heel spur shoe insoles feature ShockAbsorb™ Premium Foam to absorb shock and limit stress on your feet, ankles, and joints, so you can stay active.

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Man outside placing PULSE Performance insole into gray running shoe

Premium dual-layer cushioning: Responsive, semi-rigid arch support with premium dual-layer cushioning for superior shock absorption. Made in the USA with globally sourced materials.

Chart with PowerStep PULSE Performance dimensions by size. 12 US shoe sizes. Refer to insole diagram indicating measurement locations for data points 1-4. Measurements for data points 5-7 will remain the same across all insole sizes within this family.

Floating PULSE Performance Neutral Arch Support Running Insoles, arch support shoe inserts for women, arch support shoe inserts for men, unisex shoe inserts, insoles for pronation, mild overpronation, neutral arch support for plantar fasciitis, arch support to correct malalignment from pronation, arch support for sports

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PowerStep PULSE Performance Insoles | Running Shoe Pain Relief Orthotic

$57.95

ComfortLast^® Cushioned Insoles

PowerStep^® ComfortLast^® insoles have a special gel heel relief zone designed to absorb shock and soften impact.

They protect your heels from pain and injury while contoured arch support and dual-layer cushioning conform to your feet for enhanced comfort from heel to toe.

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Woman outside on nice sunny day throwing a frisbee

Anatomically contoured arch support: Anatomically contoured foam arch support with targeted gel protects high-impact areas for all-day comfort. Made in the USA with globally sourced materials.

Relieves & Prevents Pain: Relief of arch discomfort, metatarsal pain, foot, arch, & heel pain, sore, aching feet. PowerStep is proven clinically effective in improving foot function. Accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Chart with PowerStep ComfortLast dimensions by size. Available in 6 sizes. Refer to insole diagram indicating measurement locations for data points 1-4. Measurements for data points 5-7 will remain the same across all insole sizes within this family.

Floating ComfortLast Cushioning Insoles, arch support shoe inserts for women, arch support shoe inserts for men, unisex shoe inserts, insoles for pronation

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PowerStep ComfortLast Insoles | Cushioning Gel Insoles for Standing All Day

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PowerStep^® Pinnacle Memory Foam Insoles

PowerStep^® Pinnacle Memory Foam insoles offer the same support as our Pinnacle insoles with the plush comfort of memory foam cushioning.

This slow-recovery foam absorbs shock and conforms to your feet for added comfort and pressure relief, alleviating heel pain from heel spurs and more.

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Man placing PowerStep Pinnacle Memory insole into black shoe.

Slow Recovery Cushioning: Neutral arch support and a plush memory foam layer conforms to the shape of the foot. Made in the USA with globally sourced materials.

Relieves & Prevents Pain: Relief of plantar fasciitis, mild to moderate pronation, sore, sensitive feet, and fat pad atrophy. PowerStep is proven clinically effective in improving foot function. Accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Chart with PowerStep Pinnacle Memory Foam Insole dimensions by size. 10 US shoe sizes. Refer to insole diagram indicating measurement locations for data points 1-4. Measurements for data points 5-7 will remain the same across all insole sizes within this family.

Floating Pinnacle Memory Foam Neutral Arch Support Insoles, inserts for ball of foot pain, shoe inserts for metatarsalgia, arch support shoe inserts for women, arch support shoe inserts for men, unisex shoe inserts, insoles for pronation, mild overpronation, neutral arch support for plantar fasciitis, arch support to correct malalignment from pronation, memory foam orthotics, fat pad atrophy orthotic shoe inserts

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View of Pinnacle Memory Foam Neutral orthotic arch support shoe inserts from heel to toe, relieves foot, arch, and heel pain, and sore, aching feet, shoe insoles for walking, men’s orthotic shoe inserts, women’s orthotic shoe inserts, orthotic shoe inserts for metatarsalgia, ball of foot shoe inserts, neutral arch support helps to correct pronation and prevent plantar fasciitis

PowerStep Memory Foam Insoles | Heel and Arch Pain Relief Cushioned Orthotic

$65.95

FAQs About Heel Spurs

Have other questions about what heel spurs are, what causes them, and how to avoid them? Browse these frequently asked questions to learn more about treating heel spurs and relieving pain.

Will insoles help heel spurs?

Orthopedic shoe insoles with arch support distribute weight evenly across the foot and provide cushioned comfort for heel pain, which helps relieve and prevent heel spurs.

How do you get rid of spurs in your heel?

Heel spurs are permanent, so the only way to remove them is with surgery. Heel spur removal surgery is rare, and heel spurs can return if the cause of heel pain goes untreated.

What does a heel spur feel like?

Heel spurs alone are not painful. Instead, pain with heel spurs is likely due to plantar fasciitis, which feels like a sharp, stabbing pain in the heel that worsens after standing for long periods of time.

How do I know if I have plantar fasciitis or heel spurs?

Most heel spurs occur with plantar fasciitis pain, though the only way to tell if you have heel spurs is to see a doctor and have an x-ray performed.

What aggravates a heel spur?

Wearing ill-fitting shoes or doing activities that put stress on your feet like running, jogging, or standing on your feet all day at work can aggravate heel spurs and cause discomfort.

Is walking good for heel spurs?

If you have heel spurs, take a break from activities that cause discomfort. Once your heel pain improves, lower impact activities like walking while wearing supportive insoles are okay.

When should I see a doctor about heel spurs?

Talk to your doctor if you have foot or heel pain that makes it hard to be on your feet, interferes with your daily life, or if current heel spur treatments are not working.

Learn About Heel Spurs & More Through Our Blog

REFERENCES

Heel Spurs: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic.
Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs - OrthoInfo - AAOS. (2010). Aaos.org.

Relief for Heel Spurs & Sore Heels