How Can Chiropractic Help Foot Pain?
Introduction
The average individual takes between 3,000 and 5,000 steps everyday. Furthermore, 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. It is no wonder that plenty of people have aches and pains in this part of the body. 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. These factors not only affect feet and ankles, but also the health of the back, knees and legs. Listed below are several of the most common conditions that affect the feet and ankle.
Hallux Valgus and Bunions
Hallux Valgus is a problem that occurs when the big toe or hallux angles off towards the outside of the foot, frequently almost overlapping or bumping into the adjacent toe. It is a slow-developing condition that usually develops a bump on the inside of the big toe, called a bunion. The pain associated with Hallux Valgus is normally apparent during weight-bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing.Although, if someone has developed a bunion, the pain can be felt at rest and is generally described as a “numbing” or “burning” sensation in the big toes.
To be precise, the actual dysfunction 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 injury to this joint that creates the pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus. The challenge is normally the result of wear and tear over a long period of time from factors such as over-pronation that creates aberrant pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking. An additional cause of Hallux Valgus is inflammatory arthritis that can injure the joint and cause degenerative changes. A broken toe that does not heal appropriately can also predispose a person to Hallux Valgus. But, one of the most prevalent causes of the condition is the high-heeled and pointed shoes that women commonly wear. These shoes not only put added stress on the joint, but also aid in pushing the big toe to the outside.
If you have symptoms of 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 relieve pain and improve the function of your foot.
Plantar Fascitis ( Heel Pain )
One of the most prevalent foot ailments is heel pain, and the cause is often inflammation of the plantar fascia or Plantar Fascitis. The plantar fascia, a band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles on the bottom of the foot, connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot. It supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs 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 extend over the entire bottom of the foot.
Over time, irritation associated with the ailment can lead to the development of scar tissue, calcium deposits and eventually heel spurs. Heel spurs, a bony growth on the front part of the calcaneus of the heel bone where the plantar fascia is connected, can cause 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 partly responsible as well. Muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot are a crucial contributing factor. When the calf muscles are short and tight they exert an strong pull on the back of the cancaneus. This creates undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that adhere to the other side of the calcaneus. In addition to running and jumping activities, wearing high heels can also create a shortening and tightening of the calf muscles. Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, atypical walking patterns (such as over-pronation), improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity all stress the plantar fascia.
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.
It is often not easy to manage Plantar Fascitis once it has developed, and the problem can become extremely painful and persistent. A chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your pain and what care is best suited. 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 goes down the back of the lower leg and adheres to the heel bone. Achilles Tendonitis is an extremely painful, and often debilitating aggravation of the tendon. Injury to this valuable 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 create 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 pain may be relatively minor at first, but slowly worsens if the person tries to “work through” the pain. Many Achilles tendonitis sufferers attribute their initial discomfort to the aches and pains that have to do with age or fatigue. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can arise, resulting in traumatic harm and intense pain that makes walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.
Athletes and performers, such as dancers, whose activities include not only running and jumping, but sudden starts and stops, are expressly vulnerable to Achilles tendonitis. Also at risk are women who typically wear high-heeled shoes then switch to sport shoes for exercise because the tendon and muscles have gradually conformed to the shortened position created by wearing high-heels. When this occurs, the change to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is used to, thus creating stress and irritation. 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 often appears in middle-aged people, expressly in men who are athletes, due to the changes that happen 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 produce tendonitis. Therefore, people who are just commencing to exercise after a long layoff should stretch properly, start slowly, and increase gradually.
No matter what the cause of the problem, if an individual is experiencing the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis, he or she should contact a qualified professional, such as a chiropractor, to manage the problem before it becomes severe. Your chiropractor has many years of experience in treating Achilles tendonitis.
Pes Planus ( Flat Feet )
It is likely that nearly one quarter of humans have Pes Planus, more commonly known as flat feet. We are all born with flat feet, but somewhere between the ages 3-10 we develop an arch. However, some people never develop an arch. There are a number of factors, along with genetic disposion that can create flat feet, or predispose a person to the problem. Sometimes 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 affliction. Middle-aged persons who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight sufferers who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.
Some people 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 distress, your Orlando chiropractor can prepare a treatment plan to not only help with pain reflief, but assist in preventing further problems from developing. Chiropractic care includes joint adjustments to improve foot function and alleviate 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.
While many patients with metatarsalgia feel pain where their metatarsal bones join their toe bones, some also feel irritation along the entire length of the metatarsals and likely between them. Discomfort in this area can vary from a stiff feeling upon movement of these bones to a burning or stinging sensation. The degree of discomfort depends upon whether the condition is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an inflammation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.
The cause of the condition is due to either structural or functional reasons. An example of a structural cause is when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short causing abnormal 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.
Too much 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 affect the condition because repetitive foot activities directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.
A chiropractor is able to expertly treat metatarsalgia, no matter what the cause may be. After analyzing the underlying factors, you will receive 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.