Heel Spurs and Heel Pain: Cause or Coincidence? 

By Adrian Bianco|2026-02-24T00:29:28+00:00February 24th, 2026|

If you’ve had an x-ray for heel pain, you may have been told you have a heel spur. This is a common, small bony projection on the bottom of the heel bone (the calcaneus). A heel spur may not sound or look ideal, but does a spur actually cause heel pain - or are they simply a sign that something else is going on?

What Is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is a small bony growth that forms on the bottom of the heel bone.  It develops gradually over time where the plantar fascia (the strong band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot) attaches to the heel.

What causes a heel spur?

It’s often commonly the result of repeated tension or pulling at the attachment site of the plantar fascia.
The extra force/traction from the plantar fascia stimulates the body to lay down extra calcium, therefore creating extra bone.
This process is known as a traction response; the bone strengthens itself in response to long-term stress.
Most develop slowly and without symptoms.

Do Heel Spurs Actually Cause Pain?

This is where things get interesting but also tricky.  Research shows that many people with heel pain have heel spurs - but many people without heel pain also have them. In fact, heel spurs are frequently found on x-rays of people who have no symptoms at all. How do we interpret this?

Well, logically: the presence of a spur does not automatically mean it is the source of pain. 

The pain people feel is more often due to inflammation, tissue overload, or reduced shock absorption in the heel. Simply put: the pain is caused by other underlying causes. In many cases, the spur is simply a sign of long-term stress on the foot.

Do I need to treat my heel spur?

Heel spurs can be associated with heel pain, but they are rarely the direct cause. Therefore, diagnosing and treating the biomechanical cause is the most important objective – something our Melbourne Podiatrists at our Camberwell Podiatry clinic are excellent at doing.

Plantar heel pain improves with treatment options such as:

Footwear advice and modification
Strengthening and loading programmes
Calf flexibility work
Orthotic therapy when indicated
Shockwave therapy
Immobilisation (CAM walkers)

Surgical removal of a heel spur is rarely necessary. Treatment is most effective when it addresses the underlying biomechanical cause.

Visit our Camberwell Podiatry Clinic if you are suffering from heel pain?

At Melbourne Podiatrists and Orthotics, we take pride in assessing and diagnosing the exact biomechanical cause of your heel pain and giving you a thorough diagnosis and explanation.  From this, the podiatrists at our Camberwell foot clinic  can create a treatment plan that involves reducing pain, restoring function and getting you back to walking, running, sports or whatever it is you love doing – heel pain free of course!