How Can Chiropractic Help Foot Pain?

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How Can Chiropractic Help Foot Pain?

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Introduction

The average individual takes between 3,000 and 5,000 steps per 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 a large number 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 someone will get foot and ankle pain. Also these factors can also affect the health of a person’s back, knees and legs. Defined below are several of the commonplace conditions that affect the feet and ankle.

Hallux Valgus and Bunions

Hallux Valgus, a slow-developing affliction, is noticeable when the big toe or hallux angles off towards the outside of the foot, in many cases practically overlapping or bumping into the adjacent toe. Moreover, a bump, called a bunion, frequently is generated on the inside of the big toe. Hallux Valgus pain is usually experienced during weight-bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing, but if a bunion is present, a “numbing” or “burning” pain in the big toes can be felt at rest.

The joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal (the first metatarsal-phalangeal) is the genuine difficulty, and not the bone, itself. It is the injury to this joint that produces the pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus. Over-pronation that produces undue pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking creates the prolonged wear and tear that many times results in Hallux Valgus. Inflammatory arthritis that injures the joint and creates degenerative changes is a further cause. But, one of the most prevalent causes of the condition is the high-heeled and pointed shoes that women often wear. These shoes not only put extra stress on the joint, but also help 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 problem, and then use a variety of chiropractic techniques and modalities to lessen pain and improve the function of your foot.

Plantar Fascitis ( Heel Pain )

Heel pain, known as Plantar Fascitis, is a well known foot ailment caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that encircles 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.

People with Plantar Fascitis frequently complain of pain in the morning after first standing when they get out of bed and also when they stand up after having sat for a while. The pain begins just in front of the heel bone, but can spread over the entire bottom of the foot.

Eventually, irritation associated with the ailment 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 is connected and can create a sharp stabbing pain with walking

Those with other foot conditions, especially Pes Planus (flat feet) and/or over-pronation, are most susceptible to Plantar Fascitis, however other factors often instrumental as well. One of the most crucial contributing factors is muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot, both of which attach to the calcaneus or heel bone. Many times the calf muscles get short and tight exerting a strong pull upon the back of the calcaneus. Such a ailment creates unnatural stress on the smaller, weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that are adhered to the other side of the calcaneus. Wearing high heels will create a shorting and tightening of the calf muscles, as will running and jumping activities. Other factors that stress the plantar fascia include: sudden strenuous activity after a period of long-term inactivity, abnormal walking patterns, improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces especially barefooted, and obesity.

People who are continuously on their feet, such as nurses, teachers and waiters, are more disposed to Plantar Fascitis, as are athletes who participate in foot-stressing activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis.

Once someone develops plantar fascitis, it is often difficult to manage and can become very painful and persistent. A chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what care is most fitting. Management might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis is a painful, and often, debilitating inflammation of the Achilles tendon, also called the “heel cord.” This large tendon is an extension of the two biggest calf muscles and runs down the back of the lower leg attaching to the heel bone or calcaneus. Harm to this important tendon can make it hard or even impossible to walk. Often, a debilitating injury to the tendon is the result of an accumulation of smaller stresses that cause small tears over time, although a sudden, single incident, such as jumping, can also be the cause of a serious problem. In most cases, the appearance of symptoms is gradual. The discomfort may be relatively minor at first, but slowly worsens if the individual tries to “work through” the pain. Many Achilles tendonitis sufferers associate their initial discomfort to the aches and pains that accompany age or fatigue. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can occur, resulting in traumatic injury and excruciating pain that makes walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.

Achilles tendonitis is many times associated with athletes and performers, such as dancers, who participate in running and jumping activities, particularly those that involve sudden starts and stops. In addition, women who routinely 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 habituate to the shortened position caused by wearing high-heels, as the heel does not have to stretch all the way to the ground. When this happens, the change to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is used to, thus creating stress and inflammation. If possible, high-heels should not be worn everyday. But, if it is unavoidable, then stretching every morning and night can help to keep the Achilles tendon lengthened.

Achilles tendonitis frequently appears in middle-aged people, expressly in men who are athletes, as a result of the changes that transpire in the foot as a person ages. The arch tends to flatten as we grow older creating over-pronation and increased stress on the Achilles tendon as well as the calf and foot muscles. Similarly, problems are also common in the “weekend warrior” who exercises infrequently, as well as those who are just starting to exercise. In such people, the muscles and tendons have little flexibility due to inactivity, and overindulgence in exercise in the beginning can cause tendonitis. Therefore, people who are just commencing 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 vital for you to see a qualified professional. Your chiropractor is a highly-skilled professional who can help you to manage the condition 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 people have 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 takes place. Besides genetic causes, there are a number of factors that can produce flat feet, or predispose people to the problem. On occasion people develop arches only to have them collapse later in their life. This many times depends upon lifestyle, job, and level of activity. Age and weight also are a factor in the development of the condition. Middle-aged individuals who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight individuals who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.

Having flat feet does not necessarily mean you will have pain, as it is possible for individuals to have the condition and never feel any distress. For people who do develop pain, it most often happens in the feet and knees, and infrequently in the hips and lower back. If you feel you have flat feet and are experiencing pain, you should see your Orlando chiropractor to determine a plan of care that can ease your pain and prevent more symptoms from developing. Chiropractic therapy 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 is occasionally called “ball-of-foot pain,” as it is a pain on the sole of the foot just behind the toes where the foot bends during walking. The pain is caused by a dyfunction in one or more of the five metatarsal bones that extend from about halfway up the foot to the toes.

The feeling of pain can be limited to where the metatarsal bones connect the toe bones or it can extend along the entire length of the metatarsals, and likely between them. Challenges in this area can vary from a stiff feeling upon movement of these bones to a burning or stinging sensation. The amount of pain depends upon whether the problem is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an irritation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.

The reason for the problem can be either structural or functional. When a structural problem takes palce, such as when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short, it creates aberrant mechanics in the feet and excessive on the entire area. Flat feet or excessive arch can also alter the stresses on the metatarsals causing similar symptoms.

There are other factors that can affect these bones that are many times in the control of the individual. These include excess body weight, tight or high-heeled shoes, and excessive or poor running or athletic training. Excess weight and the wearing high-heeled shoes both augment stress upon the metatarsal, which leads to joint pain and nerve irritation. Repetitive foot activities, like running, directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.

A chiropractor is able to beneficially treat metatarsalgia, no matter what the cause may be. After diagnosing the underlying factors, you will be given a number of non-invasive therapies, inluding orthotics when necessary, and you will be advised 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.

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