Do you have sharp heel pain in foot? This sharp heel pain can be debilitating. What's worse is this sharp heel pain can happen to anyone, regardless of physical fitness. In fact, many athletes have, at times, experienced sharp heel pain and heel spurs.

Imagine what it would be like to alleviate your heel pain? Imagine a self treatment for heel spurs that you can do at home? What if this heel spur treatment was as simple as a shoe that would cradle your heel, allowing it to be properly cushioned?

Kuru has developed a patent-pending technology that has made our shoes the leading active shoe for heel pain. This technology is like an orthotic built into every shoe. Only it's better. Why? Because our technology offers the support of an orthotic, with a custom molding foam insole designed to cushion your foot and mold to your unique foot shapes. This gives you exceptional support and, more importantly, proper cushioning to alleviate your heel pain.

Critical Things You Should Know about Sharp Heel Pain in your Foot

Sharp heel pain in your foot is usually a result of heel spurs that may start out as small annoyances but quickly become debilitating. Many of the symptoms of heel spurs are similar to plantar fasciitis. In fact, 70% of those who suffer from Plantar Fasciitis also have a heel spur.

Under X-Ray, heel spurs show up as little hooks, or spurs of bone under the heel. This hook shows up in the same area as where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone. Usually, sharp heel pain in the foot is the beginning stages of plantar fasciitis. Because heel spurs usually occur alongside plantar fasciitis, it's the inflammation and irritation of the plantar fascia that causes the pain, not the spur itself.

Causes of Heel Spurs:

As mentioned, the plantar fascia is a thick, fibrous connective tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot. This strong and tight tissue helps maintain the arch of the foot. It is also one of the major transmitters of weight across the foot as you walk or run which places tremendous stress on the plantar fascia.

When you have plantar fasciitis, the plantar fascia becomes inflamed and degenerative, making normal activities quite painful. Symptoms typically worsen early in the morning after sleep. At that time, the plantar fascia is tight so even simple movements stretch the contracted plantar fascia, causing sharp heel pain in foot. As you begin to loosen the plantar fascia, the pain usually subsides, but often returns with prolonged standing or walking.

Heel spurs form in some who suffer from plantar fasciitis. While about 70 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur, X-rays also show about 50 percent of patients with no symptoms of plantar fasciitis also have a heel spur.

Self Treatment for Heel Spurs: Upgrade Your Footwear

Because plantar fasciitis, heel pain, and heel spurs are related, treating them is the same. One of the first steps in self treatment for heel spurs and pain is upgrading to better, more supportive shoes.

Testimonial I received the shoes in the afternoon and my feet were killing me from plantar fasciitis. As soon as I got the shoes, I put them on and my pain went away. The heel is so comfortable, I can't believe it. You don't even know how many hundreds of dollars I've spent on shoes to try and solve my plantar fasciitis. These shoes are so comfortable. I even had an appointment with my Podiatrist last Friday and I told him about your shoes. He hadn't heard of your shoes, but he said he would look them up. Sheila, VT

Kuru Shoes are a cost effective solution to alleviate the sharp heel pain in your foot. Kuru Footwear offers a patent-pending midsole technology that cups your heel better than any other active shoe. Our patent-pending midsole technology offers a deep heel cup and arch support which has helped alleviate sharp heel pain.

All Kuru styles feature our patent-pending KuruSole midsole technology, which is perfect for heel pain. However, we do suggest going with a lace-up style for heel pain as it will give better support to your feet and help relieve pain. We've highlighted some shoes below:

Recommended Womens Shoes for Heel Pain:

Recommended Mens Shoes for Heel Pain:

In addition to footwear, additional steps should be taken to help reduce the sharp heel pain in foot. These self treatment for heel spurs can result in significant improvements within a few short months of starting the process:

1. Rest

   The first step to treating sharp heel pain in foot is to avoid any activities that aggravate the inflammation and symptoms. Activities such as running and standing on your feet all day should be eliminated for a few weeks. Usually, simple rest from these activities will significantly reduce the inflammation and sharp heel pain.

2. Ice Packs

   Another self treatment for heel spurs is icing your foot. This will help diminish some of the symptoms and control the sharp heel pain. Icing is especially helpful after an acute exacerbation of symptoms. For an inexpensive solution to icing your foot:

   1. Place a 12 or 16 oz plastic bottle of water in the freezer overnight

   2. In the morning and evenings, roll the bottle under your foot for 10-15 minutes
   3. Refreeze the bottle for the next self treatment for your heel spurs
3. Exercises and Stretches

   The same recommended exercises and stretches for plantar fasciitis will also work for your sharp heel pain in foot. These exercises and stretches relax the tissue that surrounds the heel bone. When performed regularly, these exercises and stretches will aid in the healing process.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Medications

   Anti-inflammatory medication can decrease inflammation and control your pain. Generally over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, or Tylenol can reduce the inflammation. If necessary, prescription options are available.

5. Proper Supporting Shoes

   As mentioned above, one of the easiest self treatment for heel spurs is purchasing and wearing proper fitting shoes that give you the best support. Doctors almost always start any self treatment for heel spurs program by first upgrading a patients shoes.