If you’ve been dealing with heel pain for a while, chances are you’ve come across both of these terms. Maybe your doctor mentioned one, or you searched your symptoms online and ended up more confused than when you started. Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are often talked about interchangeably — but they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference isn’t just a matter of medical detail; it directly affects how your pain should be treated and how long your recovery will take.
Let’s break it down clearly.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia — a thick, strong band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to the base of your toes. Its job is to support the arch of your foot and absorb shock every time you take a step.
When this tissue is placed under too much repetitive stress — from long hours of standing, walking on hard surfaces, running, or wearing the wrong footwear — small micro-tears begin to develop. Your body responds to these tears with inflammation, and that inflammation is what causes the pain.
The most telling sign of plantar fasciitis is that sharp, stabbing pain in the heel during your first steps in the morning. It can also flare up after long periods of sitting, or toward the end of a day spent mostly on your feet. The pain is typically concentrated at the base of the heel, though some people feel it along the arch as well.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, affecting people of all ages and activity levels — from office workers to long-distance runners.
What Is a Heel Spur?
A heel spur is a bony growth — a small calcium deposit — that forms on the underside of the heel bone (the calcaneus). It develops gradually over time, usually as a response to chronic tension and pulling of the plantar fascia on the heel bone.
When the plantar fascia is repeatedly stressed and pulled tight, the body tries to reinforce the attachment point by depositing calcium. Over months and years, this calcium buildup forms a small, pointed bony protrusion — the heel spur.
Here’s where many people get confused: heel spurs themselves are often painless. Research suggests that a significant number of people have heel spurs and don’t even know it, because the spur itself doesn’t always cause discomfort. The pain people attribute to a heel spur is very often the result of the surrounding inflamed tissue — meaning the plantar fasciitis that caused the spur in the first place.
That said, in some cases a heel spur can contribute to pain by pressing against surrounding soft tissue, particularly during weight-bearing activity. When this happens, the pain can feel very similar to plantar fasciitis — which is exactly why the two conditions are so frequently confused.
How Are They Connected?
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are closely linked, but they have a clear cause-and-effect relationship. Plantar fasciitis comes first. When it becomes chronic — meaning it goes untreated or poorly managed for an extended period — a heel spur can develop as a secondary condition.
To put it simply: plantar fasciitis is the inflammation and micro-tearing of the plantar fascia, while a heel spur is a structural change in the bone that can result from long-standing plantar fasciitis.
This is why early treatment matters so much. Addressing the condition before it becomes chronic can prevent the formation of a heel spur altogether. You can read more about plantar fasciitis and heel spur treatment at Osteo Health Calgary.
How Do You Know Which One You Have?
Symptoms of both conditions can overlap significantly, which is why a proper assessment is essential. There are a few clues to watch for: morning pain that eases with movement is a classic sign of plantar fasciitis; pain that is sharp and localized at a specific point on the heel may suggest a heel spur is involved; and pain that returns or worsens after rest is common to both. Imaging via X-ray is the only reliable way to confirm the presence of a heel spur.
At Osteo Health Calgary, our practitioners conduct a thorough assessment of your foot, ankle, and lower body mechanics to identify what’s driving your pain before recommending a treatment plan. Getting the diagnosis right is the first step toward lasting relief.
How Are They Treated?
The encouraging news is that both plantar fasciitis and heel spurs respond well to conservative, non-surgical treatment — especially when caught early and approached with a multi-modal program.
At Osteo Health, we use a combination of four proven therapies.
Shockwave Therapy is one of the most clinically validated treatments for both conditions. It delivers focused acoustic waves to the affected tissue, breaking down scar tissue, reducing chronic inflammation, stimulating new blood flow, and triggering the body’s natural repair process. For heel spurs specifically, shockwave therapy has been shown to help remodel the tissue around the spur and significantly reduce pain — without surgery.
Osteopathy focuses on the structural mechanics of your foot, ankle, and lower limb. Tight muscles, restricted joints, and compensatory movement patterns all contribute to the stress placed on the plantar fascia. Osteopathic treatment releases soft tissue restrictions, improves range of motion, and helps restore healthy foot mechanics so that healing can occur.
Massage Therapy targets the muscles, tendons, and fascia directly — particularly the calves, Achilles tendon, and the plantar fascia itself. Releasing tension in these structures reduces the pulling force on the heel, decreases pain, and prepares the tissue for shockwave work.
Acupuncture supports the healing process by reducing pain and inflammation, improving local circulation, and releasing muscle and fascial tension. It also helps with the systemic stress response that can accompany chronic pain, supporting overall tissue recovery.
Together, these therapies don’t just manage symptoms — they address the underlying causes of your heel pain and support genuine, lasting recovery. Most clients at Osteo Health begin to notice real improvement within the first one to two sessions, with full results typically achieved over a structured four to six week program.
When Should You Seek Treatment?
The answer is simple: sooner rather than later. Whether you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, a heel spur, or both, waiting rarely helps. What starts as morning stiffness can develop into persistent, debilitating pain that interferes with work, exercise, and daily life. And the longer plantar fasciitis goes untreated, the greater the risk of developing a heel spur — or making an existing one worse.
If your heels hurt when you wake up, if standing for long periods has become something you dread, or if the pain is limiting what you can do — it’s time to get a proper assessment and start a treatment plan that actually works.
Take the First Step Toward Pain-Free Movement
At Osteo Health Calgary, our experienced team of Osteopaths, Massage Therapists, and Acupuncturists has been helping people across South Calgary recover from plantar fasciitis and heel spur pain since 2018. We offer personalized treatment plans, direct online booking, and coverage under most extended health benefit plans.
You don’t have to keep managing the pain — you can resolve it. Book your treatment now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I have a heel spur without plantar fasciitis? Technically yes — heel spurs can form due to other causes of chronic tension at the heel. However, plantar fasciitis is by far the most common trigger. It’s also possible to have a heel spur that is completely asymptomatic, meaning it causes no pain at all. An X-ray is the only way to confirm its presence.
Q2: Do I need surgery to remove a heel spur? Surgery is rarely necessary. The vast majority of heel spur cases respond well to conservative treatment, including shockwave therapy, manual therapy, and acupuncture. Surgery is typically only considered after all non-invasive options have been exhausted — which is uncommon when treatment is approached properly.
Q3: How long does it take to recover from plantar fasciitis or a heel spur? Recovery timelines vary depending on how long you’ve had the condition, your activity level, footwear, and overall foot mechanics. Most clients at Osteo Health notice meaningful improvement within 1–2 sessions, with full recovery typically achieved over a 4–6 week structured treatment program. Chronic or long-standing cases may require additional time.
Q4: Is shockwave therapy safe for heel spurs? Yes — shockwave therapy is a non-invasive, clinically validated treatment that is well tolerated by most patients. It is one of the most effective options available for both plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Your practitioner will review your health history and any contraindications at your first appointment to ensure it is appropriate for you.
