Posts Tagged ‘plantar fascitis’
It’s not surprising that Seattle Chiropractic has treated many foot pain sufferers, and knows all too well how commonplace painful foot problems are nowadays. Here’s why: We’ve all heard that movement is healthy 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 people 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 average, healthy individual takes 3,000-5,000 steps each day, not counting activities like running and aerobic exercise. But, all too often those steps are made by individuals walking incorrectly, with poor gait patterns and inappropriate posture.
Moreover, a large number of individuals wear badly-designed, poorly-fitting shoes. Moving the body through space incorrectly on feet that are inhibited from performing as they were meant to cannot help but to cause aches and pains not only in various places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, too. For instance, 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 feasibly experience problems of the back, knees and legs.
One of the most well-known foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a superbly-made, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encompasses the muscles on the bottom of the foot, fixes the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock. It goes without saying, then, that the healthy function of the plantar fascia is crucial for pain-free walking and exercise.
There are many determinants that contribute to 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. How do calf muscles get short and tight? Besides aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, tennis, and similar activities that involve running and jumping, the wearing of high heels can cause the problem.
Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity can contribute to Plantar Fascitis, as can such elements as aberrant gait patterns (e.g., over-pronation), inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (particularly with bare feet), and obesity.
Once developed, Plantar Fascitis is often not easy to manage and can become exceedingly painful and persistent. Without appropriate attention, Plantar Fascitis will only get worse.
If you are suffering from the pain of Plantar Fascitis, your chiropractor will be able to establish the cause of your problem and what chiropractic management would be most beneficial. Treatment might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, kinesio taping and, in some cases, orthotics.