The plantar fascia is the ligament, or band of connective tissue (fascia), that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. The plantar fascia holds your foot bones in an arched position. This type of heel spur sometimes does not cause pain, but its development can signal that plantar fasciitis—inflammation of this ligament—may be the cause of your foot pain. This pain may occur after exercising, long-distance running, climbing stairs, or long periods of standing.

In many cases there is no specific treatment for this type of heel spur. Treatment is aimed at the underlying cause, plantar fasciitis. In other cases, a bone spur can grow on the back of your heel where the Achilles tendon connects to your heel bone. If a nearby nerve becomes trapped by the growth of the bone spur, it can increase foot pain and swelling, and treatment may require spur removal.