Plantar Fasciitis vs Heel Spur: How to Tell the Difference

Plantar Fasciitis vs Heel Spur: How to Tell the Difference

If you are waking up with sharp heel pain when you take your first steps in the morning, you might be wondering whether you have plantar fasciitis or a heel spur. These two conditions are often confused because they can cause similar symptoms, but the treatment approach is not the same. Knowing the difference can help you recover faster and avoid making the problem worse.

This is especially important for runners, active adults, and anyone on their feet a lot in Mission Viejo, where outdoor training and long walks are part of daily life.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a strong band of connective tissue that supports the arch of your foot. When it becomes irritated or overloaded, it can become inflamed and painful.

Common Signs of Plantar Fasciitis:

• Sharp heel pain when getting out of bed

• Pain after sitting and then standing

• Pain that improves slightly as you move through the day

• Tenderness along the bottom of the foot near the heel

  
  

Typical Cause: Overuse, tight calves, weak stabilizing muscles, or changes in running or walking mechanics.

What is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is a small bony growth that forms where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone. Many people develop heel spurs without any pain at all.

The key point is that the spur does not cause the pain. Instead, it usually forms after the plantar fascia has been stressed for a long time. This is why X-rays can show heel spurs in people who have zero symptoms.

Key Differences

Condition	What It Is	Pain Pattern	Most Likely Cause
Plantar Fasciitis	Irritation of the soft tissue on the bottom of the foot	Sharp, stabbing heel pain, especially in the morning	Tight calves, foot mechanics, overuse
Heel Spur	Small bony growth on the heel bone	Often no pain at all	Develops after chronic tension on the fascia

Most of the time, the pain is coming from the plantar fascia, not the spur.

How We Treat These Conditions at Kinetik Performance and Rehab

Many people try stretching, rest, ice, or store-bought inserts and only get temporary relief. If the pain returns, the real issue is often related to movement mechanics or soft tissue tension that needs hands-on treatment.

At Kinetik Performance and Rehab in Mission Viejo, we place a strong emphasis on manual therapy to help restore mobility, decrease tissue tension, and improve foot and ankle control.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Soft tissue manual therapy to reduce tension in the plantar fascia and calf muscles

• Joint mobilization in the ankle and foot

• Strengthening exercises to support the arch and foot stability

• Gait and running analysis to identify stress patterns

  
  

Learn more about our approach here:https://www.kinetikpar.com/orthopedic-programs

When to See a Professional

You should schedule an evaluation if:

• Heel pain has lasted longer than 2 weeks

• Pain is limiting your workouts or daily movement

• Pain keeps coming back after rest

• You want a long-term solution instead of short-term relief

  
  

We help active adults in Mission Viejo get back to running, walking, and living pain-free without medications or injections.

Ready to Fix Your Heel Pain?

We start with a one-on-one evaluation to identify what is causing your pain and create a plan that works for your goals.

Have questions? Contact us directly:https://www.kinetikpar.com/contact