Santa Barbara Chiropractic wants you to know why foot pain is so prevalent: health care professionals, especially chiropractors, will tell you that movement is beneficial for the entire body, right? In fact, our overall good health is highly influenced by our getting regular physical exercise. So, you may be pondering as to why so many people suffer from foot pain. After all, aren’t our feet made for walking? The answer, of course, is “yes,” but they aren’t designed for abuse.
The normal, healthy individual takes 3,000-5,000 steps per day, not including activities like running and aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, all too often those steps are taken by people walking inadequately, with poorly aligned gait patterns and inappropriate posture.
Moreover, many people wear badly-designed, improperly-fitting shoes. Moving the body through space improperly on feet that are kept from performing correctly cannot help but to cause aches and pains not only in a variety of places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, as well. For instance, 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 individual will not only develop foot and ankle problems, but will more than likely experience problems of the back, knees and legs.
The most common foot problem is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is most frequently caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is an extraordinary, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles on the bottom of the foot, fixes the heel bone to the ball of the foot, sustains the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock. As you can see, the healthy function of the plantar fascia is essential for pain-free movement of the foot.
There are many determinants that can be considered reasons for the development of Plantar Fascitis. One factor is short and tight calf muscles. 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. How do calf muscles get short and tight? Besides aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, tennis, and similar activities that involve running and jumping, the wearing of high heels can cause the condition.
Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity can contribute to Plantar Fascitis, as can such elements as abnormal walking patterns (e.g., over-pronation), unsuitable footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (particularly with bare feet), and obesity.
Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is often difficult to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. Plantar Fascitis won’t go away without appropriate care.
If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic management would be most appropriate. Management might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, kinesio taping and, in some cases, orthotics.