Definition of

The heel spur (also known as the calcaneal spur) is a bony outgrowth that forms on the heel bone. A distinction is made between the plantar heel spur and the dorsal (or cranial) heel spur. A plantar heel spur occurs much more frequently and is located at the junction where the plantar fascia (also known as the "tendon plate") attaches to the heel bone. A dorsal heel spur is located at the tendon insertion of the Achilles tendon.

Heel spurs can be visualised using an X-ray and a heel spur diagnosis can therefore be made by the doctor. Many people already have a heel spur without it being noticeable or causing heel pain. Unfortunately, however, this bony outgrowth can also lead to injuries and discomfort around the heel area. Although a heel spur as a bony structure cannot be reversed, suitable treatments can significantly reduce pain and improve quality of life.

Cause

The causes of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are closely linked to modern lifestyles and changing environmental conditions. In the past, our ancestors had to move more holistically and significantly more in order to obtain food. Hunting, foraging for berries or farming are just a few examples. Over long distances, this movement was carried out barefoot and on natural ground. The surface of the ground and the extent of the movement meant, among other things, that the foot and leg muscles were well developed and naturally strained. Lifestyle has changed considerably over the millennia. Modern civilisation is often characterised by a lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle. However, when we do move, it is on hard, flat floors such as concrete or tarmac and in immobile, supportive shoes due to the changed environmental conditions. Consequently, the altered quantity and quality of movement leads to physical physical adaptations. The effects of this on the development of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are described below.

Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle
The modern way of life with its lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle changes the strain on our musculoskeletal system, which leads to corresponding adaptations. These adaptations are therefore a decisive factor in the cause of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. The following changes play a significant role in the development of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs:

• Weakened muscles
  Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle cause essential muscles to atrophy. The muscles of the foot and lower leg play a crucial role in supporting the arch of the foot and absorbing shock loads when walking and running. When these muscles are weakened, they cannot perform these functions effectively, resulting in increased stress on the plantar fascia.

• Foot malpositions
  The weakened musculature can also lead to foot malpositions. The muscles responsible are no longer able to adequately support the longitudinal arch, which can lead to flat feet or fallen arches. The plantar fascia, which is attached to the heel bone and the metatarsophalangeal joints, is stretched unphysiologically as a result of the lowering. This leads to an increase in tension in the plantar fascia, which can result in irritation and inflammation. A kinked foot can lead to torsion of the plantar fascia due to the heel shifting outwards and the midfoot and forefoot buckling inwards, which in turn leads to incorrect and excessive strain on the tendon plate.

• Fascia dysfunction
  Fasciae change their original structure and can become brittle if they are subjected to irregular and unphysiological strain. This results in tension, adhesions and blockages in the fasciae. As a result, the fasciae no longer function properly and can lead to increased tension in the posterior myofascial chain. The increased tension in turn causes the plantar fascia to be stretched unnaturally, making it susceptible to inflammation and injury.

• Joint stiffness
  Due to a lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle, the joints are not moved to the maximum possible range of motion. The result is a natural stiffening of the joints. Immobile joints, especially in and around the foot, increase the force exerted on the plantar fascia, which puts additional strain and overload on it.

Symptoms

It is important to note that the following are the most common heel spur symptoms and plantar fasciitis symptoms. However, the list of symptoms is not complete and exhaustive. Atypical symptoms are also possible, which are not listed here. The heel spur and plantar fasciitis symptoms often depend on various factors such as pain sensation, cause of the injury, degree of injury and physical constitution. A doctor should be consulted in order to obtain a clear diagnosis.

• Heel pain or pain in the sole of the foot, which can also radiate over the entire sole of the foot.

• Start-up pain when taking the first steps after sleeping or after sitting for a long time.

• Heel pain when stepping with the foot

Conventional methods

There are several approaches to treating plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

• Rest and relief

• Physiotherapeutic treatments

• Orthopaedic insoles

• Medication

• Shock wave therapy

• Surgical interventions

Unfortunately, these measures often do not lead to a long-term reduction in heel spur pain or plantar fasciitis pain, as the causes for the development of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are not eliminated. The aim of every heel spur treatment and every plantar fasciitis treatment should therefore be to eliminate the causes. As described above, the lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, hard, flat floors and immobile, supportive shoes should be addressed. The How kybun works proves to be a suitable heel spur therapy and plantar fasciitis therapy that can eliminate the causes mentioned.

How kybun works

kybun products aim to eliminate the harmful effects of hard, flat floors and immobile, supportive shoes and actively tackle the lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle. The elastic, springy properties of kybun products relieve pressure on the feet on the one hand and activate them on the other. The relief ensures that, as a first step, the pain caused by heel spurs and plantar fasciitis in the feet is reduced. Activation is intended to tackle the causes of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs so that the complaints become a thing of the past in the long term. This makes kybun shoes ideal for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, as they help to treat heel spurs and plantar fasciitis through the following modes of action:

• Optimised pressure distribution thanks to the reduction of pressure points
  The elastic, springy properties of kybun shoes allow the foot to sink deep into the kybun material. This then surrounds the entire foot. Thanks to this optimised pressure distribution, pressure points are reduced. The sensitive areas around the heel spur and plantar fasciitis are thus relieved, which often leads to immediate pain relief. The relief allows the inflammation around the heel and sole of the foot to slowly subside. Furthermore, the constant light movement on the elastic, springy kybun products increases the load-bearing surface, which also reduces localised pressure points.

• Reduction of the force exerted by hard, flat floors thanks to the cushioning effect
  When the heel strikes the ground in kybun shoes, the elastic, springy material is compressed. This rebound effect of the sole means that some of the forces occurring can be absorbed and released again for the rolling phase. The force absorption capacity of the kybun sole leads to cushioning around the heel area and thus protects the plantar fascia from excessive force. The reduced force reduces the load on the feet, which reduces the risk of inflammation of the sole of the foot and promotes healing of the already inflamed plantar fascia.

• Activation of the foot muscles through elastic-spring properties
  On the elastic-springy kybun shoes, the feet are constantly moving slightly and have to stabilise their balance. This activity trains the foot muscles. On the one hand, trained foot muscles can stabilise the ankles under load and thus reduce the force exerted on the plantar fascia. On the other hand, activating the foot muscles also addresses foot misalignments, which can favour heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. The lowering of the longitudinal arch and pronation in particular lead to additional strain on the plantar fascia.

Application tips

Before you wear kybun shoes for the first time, you should consider a few tips for use. The correct use of plantar fasciitis and heel spur shoes can help to alleviate the symptoms. Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs can also be treated with targeted plantar fasciitis and heel spur therapy, which is explained in the next section.

• To begin with, only wear kybun shoes for as long as your body allows. Take breaks from wearing them if the pain from the heel spur or plantar fasciitis increases or the musculoskeletal system becomes fatigued. Heel spur treatment and plantar fasciitis treatment take time. The activating properties of kybun products train the muscles, which can lead to so-called initial reactions, especially at the beginning.

• Press your heel slowly and in a controlled manner into the elastic, springy material so that the plantar fascia is relieved. Try to find a load point at which the pain around the heels is reduced or does not occur. At the beginning, make sure that you do not roll too much over your heels.

• Start by taking small, controlled steps, reducing the amount of rolling over the forefoot so that the plantar fascia is not additionally stretched. Increase the range of motion of the feet over time, if possible.

• Try the following exercises to boost the effectiveness of kybun shoes and increase the likelihood of recovery. These are intended as a complementary therapy for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.

kybun exercises

To enhance the effectiveness of kybun shoes and increase the likelihood of recovery from foot pain, we recommend the following exercises for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. The selection of exercises is not exhaustive and can be supplemented with other plantar fasciitis and heel spur exercises. The basic rule for all exercises is that the pain around the heels and plantar fascia must not get worse. If one of the exercises increases the pain of the heel spur and plantar fasciitis, it must be discontinued. Soothing and relieving "pain" outside the pain point of the heel spur and plantar fasciitis (e.g. in the calf) is desirable.