The average person who lives to be 80 years old will walk the equivalent of five times around the world. That’s a lot of steps. So, it’s not surprising that many people develop foot and ankle problems, including bone spurs. Although they can develop on the hands, knees, and spine, they’re particularly common on the foot. Some people don’t even notice a bone spur on their foot. Others deal with crippling pain that makes it difficult to walk, stand, or wear shoes. Untreated spurs in the foot can damage the joint and tissues that surround the joint space. Because they are different for everyone, it’s important to consult with an experienced orthopedic specialist like those at Advanced Orthopedics in Denver, Parker, or Aurora, Colorado. Early diagnosis and treatment can help keep you on your feet pain-free.
OVERVIEW
Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are bony growths that form where bones meet each other in the joints. They can occur in the neck, shoulders, elbows, spines, knees, and feet. Most people think of something sharp when they think of a “spur,” but it is just extra bone. It’s usually smooth, but it can cause wear and tear or pain if it presses or rubs on other bones or soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, or nerves in the body. They are common as one ages. About 80% of men and 60% of women over the age of 50 have them. By age 70, 95% of both men and women have bone spurs. When they grow on the foot, it is typically on the top of the foot, the toe, and the back of the heel where the Achilles tendon connects to the heel bone.
ABOUT THE FOOT
The foot is a complex mechanical structure composed of 33 joints, 26 bones, and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments that all work together to bear weight, allow for locomotion, and transmit force. The foot has three parts: the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot. Because the foot has so many joints, it is one of the most common areas for developing bone spurs.
WHAT ARE BONE SPURS?
Joint damage from osteoarthritis is the most common cause of bone spurs. Osteoarthritis breaks down connective tissue called cartilage that cushions the ends of bones. The inflammatory reaction that occurs when cartilage or tendons are damaged leads to bone remodeling and the development of excess bone that leads to the formation of bony outgrowths. It takes years for a bone spur to form, one reason that age is the greatest risk factor.
Read more about Bone Spurs on our new Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a foot specialist today.
