It’s not surprising that Seattle Chiropractic has treated plenty of foot pain sufferers, and knows all too well how common painful foot problems are nowadays. Here’s why: We all know that movement is healthy for every part of body, right? In fact, our overall good health is highly influenced by our getting regular physical exercise. If that’s true, you may be asking why so many individuals suffer from foot pain. After all, aren’t our feet made for walking? The answer, of course, is “yes,” but they aren’t designed for mistreatment.
The average, healthy individual takes 3,000-5,000 steps per day, not counting activities such as running and aerobic exercise. However, all too often those steps are taken by individuals 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 improperly on feet that are inhibited 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. As a case in point, if a person 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 challenges, but will more than likely experience challenges in the back, knees and legs.
The most common foot problem is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is generally caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a superbly-made, 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, supports the arch, safeguards the foot, and absorbs shock. Obviously, the healthy function of the plantar fascia is vital for pain-free movement of the foot.
There are many elements 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? Besides running and jumping activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis, the wearing of high heels can produce the condition.
Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity can contribute to Plantar Fascitis, as can such determinants as abnormal gait patterns (e.g., over-pronation), inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (particularly with bare feet), and obesity.
Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is often difficult to manage and can become extremely painful and constant. Plantar Fascitis won’t go away without appropriate care.
If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your condition and what chiropractic therapies would be best suited. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, kinesio taping and, in some cases, orthotics.