Bone spurs, or osteophytes, result when bone formation occurs beyond the regular limits of the skeletal system. These micro-regions are characterized by an accumulation of calcium, and are usually associated with stress or inflammation in the major joints of the body. Bone spurs are most prevalent in the neck, shoulders, spine, knees, and feet, but can be found in other areas as well. The development of a bone spur is fairly common after age 60, and is often, though not always, accompanied by pain or tenderness in the affected joint. Joints represent the intersection of bone, muscle, ligaments, and tendons, and are thus susceptible to injury from any of these sources. Often, such physical injuries or inflammation have the secondary effect of spur formation. In particular, there is a very striking relationship between occurrence of arthritis, which is essentially an inflammatory disease, and osteophytosis (spur development) in the problematic joint.
In the spine, spurs often indicate an underlying problem of disk deterioration or misalignment, such as scoliosis. Notably, a 1999 U.K. study by O’Neill et al. found that vertebral osteophytes were more numerous and severe in men, and often associated with heavy physical activity during youth. The spurs formed most commonly in the middle and lower vertebrae, and correlated with increased body mass. Additionally, osteophytosis can lead to its own complications, such as spinal stenosis, in which pinched nerves cause pain, numbness, and tingling.
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