What is the Difference Between Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis

The key difference between bone spurs and plantar fasciitis is that bone spurs are bony projections that develop along the bone edges, while plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of a ligament called the plantar fascia that connects the heel to the front of the foot.

Bone spurs and plantar fasciitis are two associated medical conditions. This is because both these conditions can affect the heel. However, bone spurs can also affect other areas in the body, such as hands, shoulders, neck, spine, hips, and knees. Bone spurs can happen as a reaction to the stress and inflammation that is usually caused by plantar fasciitis. Over time, the human body responds to the stress and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis by building extra bone tissue. This extra bone tissue becomes bone sours.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Bone Spurs
3. What is Plantar Fasciitis
4. Similarities – Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis
5. Bone Spurs vs Plantar Fasciitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Bone Spurs vs Plantar Fasciitis

What are Bone Spurs?

Bone spurs are bony projections that develop along the bone edges. Bone spurs can affect different parts of the body, including hands, shoulders, neck, spine, hips, knees, and feet (heels). It is also called osteophytes. Bone spurs often pop up in the joints where two bones meet. Bone spurs are commonly caused by joint damage due to conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, degenerative joint diseases, or injury to joints and tendons. The other causes of this condition include overuse, genes, diet, obesity, born with bone problems, and spinal stenosis. The symptoms of bone spurs include pain in the affected joint, pain or stiffness when trying to bend or move, weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, muscle spasms or cramps, bumps under the skin, mainly in hands and fingers, and bladder and bowel controlling problems.

Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 01: Bone Spurs

Moreover, bone spurs can be diagnosed through physical examination, CT scan, MRI, and electroconductive test. Furthermore, treatment options for bone spurs may include over-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen), resting, steroid shots, and resting.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the ligament called the plantar fascia that connects the heel to the front of the foot. The plantar fascia acts as a shock absorber, and it supports the arch of the foot. This ligament experiences a lot of wear and tear throughout life. Too much pressure on the feet can damage or tear this ligament, which leads to plantar fasciitis. This condition is caused by the overuse of the ligament, small tears in the facia tissue, and genetics. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain at the bottom of the heel, a burning ache on the bottom of the foot that usually extends outward from the heel, pain that worsens in the morning, pain that flare-up during prolonged activities due to irritation, and inflammation.

Bone Spurs vs Plantar Fasciitis in Tabular Form

Figure 02: Plantar Fasciitis

Moreover, plantar fasciitis can be diagnosed through physical examination, X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound. Furthermore, treatment options for plantar fasciitis include corticosteroid injection, physical therapy, shock wave therapy, stretching exercises, and surgeries like gastrocnemius recession and plantar fascia release.

What are the Similarities Between Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis?

Bone spurs and plantar fasciitis are two associated medical conditions.
Plantar fasciitis can cause bone spurs.
Both these conditions can affect the heel.
They can cause intense pain in the foot.
Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging testing.
They are treated through over-the-counter pain relievers, steroid injections, and physical therapy.

What is the Difference Between Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis?

Bone spurs are bony projections that develop along the bone edges, while plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia that connects the heel to the front of the foot. Thus, this is the key difference between bone spurs and plantar fasciitis. Furthermore, bone spurs are caused by joint damage due to conditions like osteoarthritis, degenerative joint diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, injury to joints and tendons, overuse, genes, diet, obesity, born with bone problems, and spinal stenosis. On the other hand, plantar fasciitis is caused by the overuse of the ligament, small tears in the facia tissue, and genetics.

The below infographic presents the differences between bone spurs and plantar fasciitis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Bone Spurs vs Plantar Fasciitis

Bone spurs and plantar fasciitis are two associated medical conditions affecting the heels. Bone spurs can be caused as a reaction to plantar fasciitis. Bone spurs are bony projections that develop along the bone edges. In contrast, plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia that connects the heel to the front of the foot. So, this is the key difference between bone spurs and plantar fasciitis.

Reference:

1. “Bone Spurs.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. Larson, Jennifer. “What to Know about Plantar Fasciitis.” Healthline, Healthline Media.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Bonespur” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “PF-PainAreas” By Kosi Gramatikoff User:Kosigrim – English Wikipedia (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia