Seattle Chiropractor: Is Foot Pain As Commonplace As Sinus Headaches?
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’ve all heard that movement is good for the entire body, right? From our head to our toes, our good health is highly affected by how much physical exercise we get on a regular basis. If that’s true, you may be pondering as to why so many people suffer from foot pain. After all, our feet are made for walking, aren’t they? The answer, of course, is “yes,” but they aren’t designed for mistreatment.
The ordinary, healthy individual takes 3,000-5,000 steps per day, not to mention activities such as running and aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, many times those steps are made by people walking inadequately, with poorly aligned gait patterns and inappropriate posture.
Moreover, a significant number of people wear poorly-designed, incorrectly-fitting shoes. Moving the body through space improperly on feet that are inhibited from performing as they were meant to cannot help but to create painful problems not only in a variety of places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, too. For example, if an individual over-pronates (walks like a duck) in a pair of poorly-made or unevenly-worn shoes, or in any pair of high heels, that person will not only develop foot and ankle challenges, but will more than likely experience challenges in the back, knees and legs.
The most prevalent foot problem is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is an extraordinary, 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, reinforces the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock. Obviously, the healthy function of the plantar fascia is vital for pain-free walking and exercise.
There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis. Short and tight calf muscles are one factor. 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. You may be wondering how calf muscles 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 create the problem.
Other factors that can be instrumental in producing Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, abnormal gait patterns (such as over-pronation), improper 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 extremely painful and tenacious. Plantar Fascitis won’t go away without appropriate care.
If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to establish the reason for your problem and what chiropractic therapies 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.