Although some carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, the weight of the body falls on their feet. Feet are more than just the strength of the body as they house more than a quarter of the body’s bones and more than 30 joints. This complexity can lead to many complications. A painful foot condition that impacts 10% of the population is called plantar fasciitis. Our plantar fasciitis chiropractor at Vital Wellness Center has put the following guide together to help current and future patients better understand this condition and when to seek care for it or any other foot issues.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
The painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, or the tendon that connects the base of the toes to the heel, is called plantar fasciitis. This tendon is needed to push the ball of the foot into the ground successfully and the force of this pushing movement helps to propel the body forward when walking and running. It also helps to reinforce the strength of the foot’s arch.
Running and walking involve pushing down on the ball of the foot when moving forward, and both of these movements cause additional strain on the tendon. Over time, the plantar fascia can become irritated with continual movement which is how plantar fasciitis is caused. The odds of developing this condition are increased with age-related or genetically determined changes making the tendon less elastic.
Plantar Fasciitis Common Cause
Any excess weight can increase stress on the plantar fascia since the feet hold the weight of the body. This can also increase the possibility of plantar fasciitis. Many of our patients at Vital Wellness Center will notice this condition as they begin a walking program. This exercise will hopefully help them maintain or lose weight, but it will put extra strain on the feet from the additional activity.
Other contributing factors may come from standing on hard surfaces, certain shoe designs, and walking or running. Due to their shape or structure, some of our patients’ feet are more prone to developing this condition. A common factor among many of our patients with plantar fasciitis is that they have a heel that moves inward while they are walking. A handful of other medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, can cause occasional plantar fasciitis flare-ups.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
Heel pain is the number one symptom of plantar fasciitis. Sudden trauma, such as jumping down some distance or missing a step, can occasionally cause plantar fasciitis pain. However, plantar fasciitis pain will usually start subtly and worsen over time.
Redness or swelling, stiffness of the heel’s bottom, an aching arch, and sharp pain when first stepping onto the foot in the morning after prolonged rest are some other symptoms of this condition. Patients can also sometimes feel a burning sensation rather than pain.
The pain of plantar fasciitis can change depending on activity which is one of the most frustrating aspects of this condition. Our patients here at Vital Wellness Center state that the most intense pain occurs when first getting up in the morning and that the pain will diminish after a few hours. Since excess activity can exacerbate the pain, doing a warm up to try and get over the pain can make it even worse. Plantar fasciitis pain can also be worsened by going barefoot or wearing unsupportive shoes.
Eliminate Plantar Fasciitis With Chiropractic Care
Plantar fasciitis treatment at Vital Wellness Center concentrates on restoring function and eliminating pain. We can provide real relief for our patients because we focus on finding and correcting as much of the underlying issues as possible. Healing takes time so we’re committed to reducing pain with the first plantar fasciitis chiropractic appointment.
Specific Plantar Fasciitis Treatments We Provide
Chiropractic care is individualized but there are a few general types of interventions that we find most helpful for plantar fasciitis. These therapies help patients feel less pain to enjoy easier movement and are backed by numerous research studies.
Comprehensive Foot Function and Pain Evaluation
Although we offer an incredible amount of therapies, every patient consultation begins with a comprehensive foot function evaluation. This evaluation will help us learn as much as possible about each patient’s health through physical examination, nerve and movement testing, and sometimes, diagnostic imaging since the feet are so complex. This allows us to provide care that focuses on any nerve, mechanical, or disease processes that are causing the foot pain.
It is very important to thoroughly investigate the pain of each patient. By asking if the pain is burning, stabbing, or dull we can carefully assess the quality of and identify any factors that aggravate or alleviate the pain. We are able to provide short–term relief and long-term solutions because we successfully target the source of plantar fasciitis pain with our evaluation.
Hands-On Plantar Fasciitis Chiropractic Therapies
Most people think of hands-on spinal adjustments when they think of chiropractic care. Spinal manipulation isn’t the only hands-on therapy we use to resolve plantar fasciitis, although it does help improve alignment and can help with some forms of foot pain. Many Vital Wellness Center patients don’t realize we can adjust the alignment of any area of the body including the feet. Most patients feel relief when we restore a healthier alignment in the feet since the pressure in the plantar fascia is reduced.
The Graston Technique is another form of hands-on therapy that we perform. This process involves a soft-tissue manipulation regimen that releases muscular adhesions or knots by moving a metal tool across tight tissues. The body can then begin to heal the underlying cause of plantar fasciitis when we resolve those painfully tense areas.
Deep Tissue Laser
A form of therapy that harnesses the power of red light energy to heal the plantar fascia at the cellular level is known as deep tissue laser therapy. This involves aiming a red light device at the plantar fascia to penetrate deep into the cellular level and will help increase energy production in each cell while rejuvenating damaged tissues.
This approach is a top choice for patients on a time-crunch. Many patients receive this pain-free therapy in as little as three to five minutes, so it can be done in sessions on their way home from work or during their lunch hour. Other times, this is provided during sessions that contain one or more therapies that may include the Graston Technique or chiropractic adjustment for added benefits.
Individualized Lifestyle Interventions
The work we do at Vital Wellness Center is useless if it isn’t accompanied by health-promoting lifestyle changes even though we offer many therapies using technology and chiropractic-driven interventions. We focus on helping our patients maintain or achieve a healthy weight since research has shown that excess weight worsens plantar fasciitis pain. We include power-packed, plant-based foods in our individualized nutrition plans since they maximize energy with minimal caloric intake.
Incorporating wholesome movement through exercise is another important aspect of our care plan since it can boost metabolism and energy. The crucial role of stretching the Achilles tendon, calf, and foot muscles may not be revealed by simply searching the internet for “plantar fasciitis treatment near me” nor will it highlight how important a relaxed, neutral posture is.
When to Visit Our Chiropractor for Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
You know how much plantar fasciitis or any foot-related problem can limit your activity and cause you pain if you suffer from these issues. At Vital Wellness Center, our plantar fasciitis chiropractor, Dr. Foss, will offer you care that will help you reap the most benefits. Give our office a call to schedule a comprehensive plantar fasciitis consultation as soon as possible because the earlier we can intervene, the more we can help.