Seattle Chiropractic has treated many foot pain sufferers, and knows all too well how prevalent painful foot problems are nowadays. Here’s why: We all know that movement is good for the whole body, right? In fact, our overall good health is highly influenced by our getting regular physical exercise. If that’s true, why do so many individuals suffer from aches and pains in their feet? After all, our feet are made for walking, aren’t they? The answer, of course, is “yes,” but they aren’t designed for exploitation.
The normal, healthy individual takes 3,000-5,000 steps per day, not including activities like running and aerobic exercise. But, frequently those steps are made by people walking incorrectly, with poor gait patterns and bad posture.
Furthermore, a large number of individuals wear badly-designed, poorly-fitting shoes. Moving the body through space inappropriately on feet that are impeded from performing as they were meant to cannot help but to cause painful problems not only in a variety of places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, as well. For example, if an individual over-pronates (walks like a duck) in shoes that are poorly-made or unevenly-worn, or in any pair of high heels, that individual is not only likely to develop foot and ankle problems, but will more than likely experience challenges in the back, knees and legs.
One of the most familiar foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is generally caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a wonderfully-formed, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encircles the muscles on the bottom of the foot, adheres the heel bone to the ball of the foot, sustains the arch, safeguards the foot, and absorbs shock. As you can see, the healthy function of the plantar fascia is crucial for pain-free walking and exercise.
There are many factors that can be considered reasons for the development of Plantar Fascitis. One factor is short and tight calf muscles. Undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia occurs when calf muscles get short and tight, exerting a strong pull on the back of the heel bone. What causes calf muscles to get short and tight? In addition to running and jumping activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis, the wearing of high heels can produce the condition.
Other determinants that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, aberrant walking patterns (such as over-pronation), inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.
Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is often difficult to manage and can become intensely painful and constant. Plantar Fascitis won’t go away without appropriate treatment.
If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the reason for your problem and what chiropractic management would be most appropriate. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, kinesio taping and, in some cases, orthotics.