Have you ever felt a sharp, pulling sensation on the bottom of your foot?
If so, you were likely experiencing plantar fasciitis.
This condition is extremely common, and it affects thousands of individuals every year. While it is not a life-threatening issue, plantar fasciitis can be extremely debilitating. In some cases, plantar fasciitis is so severe that patients are unable to walk for more than a few steps.
Fortunately, chiropractic care can help individuals suffering from plantar fasciitis regain function, decrease pain, and return to a symptom-free life.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
On the sole of the foot, there is a layer of tight, banded tissue known as the plantar fascia.
This fascial layer is connected to a few different muscles. When these muscles contract, or when the plantar fascia is passively stretched, it springs back. This allows us to push off when walking, running, or jumping.
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which this structure becomes tight and irritated. As a result, when we try to walk or stretch this tissue, it doesn’t expand as easily as it should. Generally, after taking a few steps, the plantar fascia starts to loosen and the pain decreases slightly.
How is Plantar Fasciitis Treated?
There are a variety of treatment options for plantar fasciitis, some of which tend to have better outcomes than others.
Medication and Surgery
Sometimes, people will take medication to lessen the pain from plantar fasciitis. However, medications for painful conditions often serve simply to mask the symptoms, they do not address the underlying issues.
In very severe cases of plantar fasciitis, some people will elect to undergo surgery. This is not a decision that should be taken lightly, as surgeries always come with significant risk, and they cannot be undone.
Massage
Because the plantar fascia is tight and restricted in people with plantar fasciitis, massage can often provide temporary relief. However, once the person goes to bed for the evening, the pain and stiffness may return the next morning.
Splints and Orthotics
One of the major treatments for plantar fasciitis is the use of a night splint.
Night splints keep the foot bent upwards (in dorsiflexion) while one sleeps. As a result, the plantar fascia is kept in a stretched position and is unable to tighten.
Also, orthotics are frequently prescribed for those with chronic plantar fasciitis. When prescribed by a skilled orthotist, orthotics will (hopefully) eliminate gait deviations that have led to the condition in question. Unfortunately, many orthotics can be uncomfortable and they often need to be modified for optimal alignment.
Corrective Exercises
In some cases, correcting the alignment of the foot (and other joints of the lower body) will lead to better alignment and decreased plantar fasciitis symptoms. These exercises often involve stretching tight tissues and strengthening weak tissues on or near the foot.
Additionally, the hips and knees can factor into foot pain and symptoms. Therefore, exercises to improve the positioning of these joints will often also help with plantar fasciitis.
Chiropractic Treatments
The spine is interconnected with all other structures in the body. When the spine is out of alignment, these connections can be disrupted.
For this reason, chiropractors place a heavy emphasis on improving alignment of the spine. They fix misalignments through the use of joint manipulations. In doing so, the spine can better send and receive impulses from structures throughout the body.
In the case of plantar fasciitis, correcting misalignments (also known as subluxations) in the spine can lead to reduced pain and improved mobility.
Are you suffering from plantar fasciitis and struggling to find relief? If so, you should strongly consider chiropractic care. Your friendly, neighborhood chiropractors at Keystone Chiropractic in Plano, TX are here to help. Book your appointment today!
