Adjust Away Your Foot Challenges
Introduction
Generally speaking, most of us take 3,000-5,000 steps each day. Not to mention, many of us participate in activities, such as running and aerobic exercise, that add many more steps, as well as stress to our poor, overworked feet. Is it any wonder then why plenty of people have aches and pains in their feet? Factors such as flat feet or over-pronated feet, individual walking and running style, and the type of shoe a person wears can determine if an individual will experience foot and ankle pain. These determinants not only affect feet and ankles, but also the health of the back, knees and legs. Defined below are several of the most common conditions that affect the feet and ankle.
Hallux Valgus and Bunions
Hallux Valgus, a slow-developing affliction, is evident when the big toe or hallux deviates towards the outside of the foot, in many cases nearly overlapping or bumping into the adjacent toe. Moreover, a bump, called a bunion, often is generated on the inside of the big toe. The pain associated with Hallux Valgus is generally apparent during weight-bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing.But, if someone has developed a bunion, the pain can be apparent at rest and is generally described as a “numbing” or “burning” sensation in the big toes.
To be clear, the true problem is not in the bone, itself, but in the joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal bone, i.e., the first metatarsal-phalangeal. It is the harm to this joint that causes the pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus. Over-pronation that produces undue pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking causes the prolonged wear and tear that frequently results in Hallux Valgus. Inflammatory arthritis that damages the joint and creates degenerative changes is an additional cause. However, one of the more common causes of the condition is the high-heeled and pointed shoes that women frequently wear. These shoes not only put added stress on the joint, but also aid in pushing the big toe to the outside.
If you are experiencing Hallux Valgus, your chiropractor can examine your foot to determine which factors are contributing to your challenge, and then use a range of chiropractic techniques and modalities to lessen pain and improve the function of your foot.
Plantar Fascitis ( Heel Pain )
One of the most prevalent foot problems is heel pain, and the cause is generally irritation of the plantar fascia or Plantar Fascitis. The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles on the bottom of the foot . It connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supporting the arch, protecting the foot, and absorbing shock.
A repeated compaint by sufferers with Plantar Fascitis is pain upon first arising in the morning, as well as pain upon rising after prolonged sitting. The pain originates just in front of the heel bone, but can advance over the entire bottom of the foot.
Eventually, irritation associated with the problem can lead to the development of scar tissue, calcium deposits and eventually heel spurs. These spurs are a bony growth on the front part of the calcaneus of the heel bone where the plantar fascia attaches and can create a sharp stabbing pain with walking
Individuals with other foot conditions, especially Pes Planus (flat feet) and/or over-pronation, are most susceptible to Plantar Fascitis, however other factors often contribute as well. Muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot are a crucial contributing factor. Many times the calf muscles get short and tight exerting a strong pull upon the back of the calcaneus. Such a ailment produces unnatural stress on the smaller, weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that are connected to the other side of the calcaneus. In addition to running and jumping activities, wearing high heels can also cause a shortening and tightening of the calf muscles. Other factors that stress the plantar fascia include: sudden strenuous activity after a period of long-term inactivity, abnormal walking patterns, inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces especially barefooted, and obesity.
Nurses, teachers, and waiters who are required to be constantly on their feet, and those whose activities include aerobic, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis are more susceptible to Plantar Fascitis.
It is often difficult to manage Plantar Fascitis once it has developed, and the problem can become extremely painful and unremitting. A chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your pain and what care is most appropriate. Management might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon (the heel cord), is a large tendon that is an extension of the two largest calf muscles. It runs down the back of the lower leg and attaches to the heel bone. Achilles Tendonitis is an excruciatingly painful, and often debilitating irritation of the tendon. Harm to this valuable tendon can make it challenging or even impossible to walk. The condition may be created by a sudden single incident, such as jumping, but more often it results from an accumulation of smaller stresses that produce small tears in the tendon over time. Because the symptoms appear gradually, in the beginning many Achilles Tendonitis sufferers may associate the initial pain to the aches and pains that have to do with age or fatigue. Nevertheless, the condition will gradually worsen, especially if the person makes an effort to “work through” the pain. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can arise, resulting in traumatic injury and severe pain that makes walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.
Achilles tendonitis is frequently associated with athletes and performers, such as dancers, who participate in running and jumping activities, particularly those that include sudden starts and stops. In addition, women who regularly wear high-heeled shoes are also at risk, particularly if they switch to sport shoes for exercise. In these cases, the Achilles tendon and muscles gradually adapt to the shortened position caused by wearing high-heels, as the heel isn’t required to stretch all the way to the ground. When this occurs, the switch to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is adapted to, hence producing stress and aggravation. If possible, high-heels should not be worn everyday. But, if it is not possible, then stretching every morning and night can help to keep the Achilles tendon lengthened.
As mentioned above, Achilles tendonitis is often age-related, expressly in men who are athletes. As a person ages, the arch tends to flatten producing over-pronation and increased stress on the Achilles tendon, as well as the calf and foot muscles. Correspondingly, problems are also common in the “weekend warrior” who exercises infrequently, as well as those who are just beginning to exercise. In such people, the muscles and tendons have little flexibility due to inactivity, and overdoing exercise in the beginning can cause tendonitis. Therefore, people who are just starting to exercise after a long layoff should stretch properly, start slowly, and increase gradually.
Regardless of how it happened, if you are experiencing Achilles tendonitis symptoms, it is crucial for you to see a qualified professional. Your chiropractor is a highly-skilled professional who can help you to manage the problem before it becomes severe.
Pes Planus ( Flat Feet )
Flat Feet, or Pes Planus as it is called by the medical community, is a widespread condition. It is estimated that at least one quarter of the population has flat feet. Human beings are not born with an arch, but develop them somewhere between ages 3-10. Although in certain people this development never occurs. There are a number of factors, in addition to genetic disposion that can cause flat feet, or predispose a person to the condition. A person’s job, level of activity, and lifestyle can produce a previously-developed arch to collapse later in life. Age and weight also are a factor in the development of the affliction. Middle-aged people who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight people who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.
Some individuals have flat feet and never feel any discomfort, while others experience pain in the feet and knees, and occasionally in the hips and lower back as well. If you have flat feet and are experiencing pain, your Orlando chiropractor can give you a treatment plan to not only help with pain reflief, but assist in preventing additional problems from developing. Chiropractic care includes joint adjustments to promote good foot function and resolve painful symptoms. Your chiropractor may also prescribe arch-supporting insoles, called orthotics, for additional support and stability.
Metatarsalgia ( Pain in the ball of the foot )
Metatarsalgia, sometimes called “ball-of-foot pain,” is a pain in the bottom of the foot just behind the toes where the foot bends during walking. The metatarsal bones extend from halfway up the foot to the toes. A dysfunction in one or more of these five bones is the cause of pain.
The feeling of pain can be limited to where the metatarsal bones join the toe bones or it can extend along the entire length of the metatarsals, and most probably between them. Problems in this area can vary from a stiff feeling upon movement of these bones to a burning or stinging sensation. This depends upon whether the condition is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an aggravation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.
The reason for the distress can be either structural or functional. An example of a structural cause is when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short producing aberrant mechanics in the feet and too much stress upon this area. Flat feet or excessive arch can also alter the stresses on the metatarsals causing similar symptoms.
Surplus body weight, as well as wearing high-heeled shoes, are both contributing factors as they increase stress on the metatarsal that can lead to joint pain and nerve irritation. In addition, excessive or poor running or athletic training can exasserbate the condition because repetitive foot activities directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.
Whatever the cause, a chiropractor can beneficially treat metatarsalgia. After analysing what factors are underlying your condition, your chiropractor can offer a variety of non-invasive therapies, including orthotics, as well as offer recommendations on how you can avoid future pain.
See your Orlando chiropractor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the foot problems mentioned above.