Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a painful and troublesome condition that affects the heels, making it difficult to walk without pain. It involves the inflammation of a thick band of fascia that runs through the bottom of the foot, leaving pain when standing and walking.
Tension and stress on this band of fascia can cause small tears in the tissue. These tears and stretching lead to irritation and inflammation that is hard to reduce, especially if you are constantly on your feet. Plantar fasciitis is most commonly found in:
- Those who are extremely physically active
- Those who are overweight or obese
- Those who wear shoes and other footwear that does not support natural arch movement
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Anything that can put pressure on the bottoms of the feet has the potential to create much discomfort. You’ll know you are experiencing this condition with the appearance of these symptoms:
- Stabbing pains through the bottom of the foot when standing and walking
- Prevalence of pain near the heel of the foot
- Morning foot pain when getting out of bed
- Foot pain that appears after exercise, but not during physical activity
While there are several therapies that are designed to reduce pain and irritation associated with plantar fasciitis, many are now looking to their friendly neighborhood chiro to help ease pain naturally.
The Role of Chiropractic Care
It is a common misconception that chiropractors only work on the bones in the neck and spine. What many don’t realize is that your spine houses your delicate nervous system, which affects nearly every other system of your body.
A subluxation in the spine leads to pinched nerves. These compromised nerves, which would normally be called upon to send and receive messages for various systems of the body, cannot perform their function as intended when they are pinched or constricted due to spinal misalignment.
Chiropractors can help to correct issues with plantar fasciitis by adjusting bones both in the spine and in the feet, correcting these communication issues and reducing inflammation. There are a number of ways that chiropractors can treat and alleviate symptoms related to plantar fasciitis. Here are a few protocols that they may use to treat your condition:
- Adjustments
Your chiro will perform a series of adjustments to your hips, ankles, feet, and spine; these adjustments are designed to reduce and alleviate pressure on the bottoms of your feet, allowing tender and inflamed fascia to heal on their own. - Stretching Recommendations
Adding flexibility to that band of fascia across the bottom of the feet will reduce inflammation and tearing in the future, allowing you more strength and freedom of movement. Your chiro can not only prescribe a specific protocol of stretches, but he/she can lead you through these stretches correctly, giving you tips for getting the most out of your stretching therapy without causing yourself further injury. - Ergonomic Advice
Your chiro may make ergonomic suggestions for walking, sitting, standing, and shifting your weight from foot to foot. These suggestions are designed to promote healing and rest for damaged tissues while still allowing you freedom of movement. You may be required to wear a nighttime splint to reduce irritation, but this short-term solution for long-term healing is a small price to pay for pain-free movement. Follow the suggestions of your chiro to get the most out of your treatment plan. - Anti-inflammatory Herbs and Medicines
Your chiro may suggest the use of anti-inflammatory agents and herbals to help reduce inflammation and pain while your body heals. Have a conversation about medicines that you may currently be taking to reduce the risk of drug interactions that may set you back, rather than place you on a path to healing.
Premiere Chiro – Let Us Help You Achieve Vibrant Health
Premiere Chiropractic services is committed to helping you achieve your most vibrant state of health. We will work with you to design a care plan that addresses areas of concern, bringing balance to the body through systematic care approaches involving adjustments, physical therapy protocols, and other alternative wellness methods.
Don’t struggle with foot pain any longer; visit us and see how our plantar fasciitis treatment can get you up and moving pain-free once more. You deserve to experience good health, and we can help you get there.
