When you’re hiking in Red Rocks Park, surfing in Santa Cruz, or simply walking to the fridge for a snack, you’re using your feet. Unfortunately, nearly 2 million Americans per year suffer from plantar fasciitis, a painful condition that makes it difficult to walk or stand.
In this article, we will discuss plantar fasciitis to help you better understand the condition and how working with the best chiropractor for plantar fasciitis could be the best solution to alleviating pain.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes pain in the heel of the foot. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that connects the bottom of each foot’s heel bone to the toes, becomes inflamed. The plantar fascia acts similarly to a rubber band, stretching to allow range of motion in the foot.
Plantar fasciitis does not have one specific cause; instead, there are a variety of causes and risk factors for plantar fasciitis. Several factors can contribute to its development, such as overuse, improper footwear, repetitive movements, obesity, age, and occupational factors.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
- Heel pain
- Pain in the arch of the foot
- Swelling around the heel
- A general feeling of stiffness in the foot
- A tight feeling in the Achilles tendon
- Tenderness in the foot (particularly in the heel and arch)
- Limited mobility and range of motion in the foot and ankle
- A dull, consistent ache throughout the day
Plantar fasciitis can be detrimental to your quality of life because it causes an often persistent discomfort in the affected foot that can turn simple tasks into a challenge. The condition can also disrupt sleep patterns, as the pain may persist when you’re trying to fall asleep. It may seem relatively benign but plantar fasciitis can cause a range of other health issues if left unresolved.
Plantar Fasciitis’s Relationship with the Spine
The spine and your posture can have a significant impact on plantar fasciitis and its severity because the lower part of your body, especially your feet, are weight-bearing extremities.
Poor posture or spinal alignment can dramatically alter how your natural body weight is distributed to the lower body, resulting in excess strain on the muscles and ligaments, including the plantar fascia in the feet.
The spine has a natural curvature that allows it to distribute weight properly. When this curvature is compromised, such as with poor posture, its ability to perform this function is impacted. For example, if you have too much forward posture, the muscles and ligaments in your feet must adjust to maintain your balance and gait when standing or walking. This can irritate the plantar fascia, as it acts as a shock absorber and provides stability.
How a Chiropractor Can Help Relieve Plantar Fasciitis
We often think of the spine when referring to chiropractors, however, they must be knowledgeable of the entire musculoskeletal system to provide treatment. And because of their expertise, chiropractors can provide effective treatment to those with plantar fasciitis.
Depending on the cause of your plantar fasciitis, your chiropractor will likely implement one or more of the treatments listed below.
| Chiropractic Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis | |
|---|---|
| Treatment | How It Works |
| Chiropractic Adjustment | Chiropractors apply gentle, manual adjustments either by hand or with small instruments to the joints of the body including the spine, foot, and ankle. These adjustments can alleviate tension and promote healing in the foot and ankle while restoring proper alignment and improving posture when applied to the spine. |
| Massage Therapy | Chiropractors use soft tissue therapy that massages the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to lower inflammation, alleviate tension, and improve circulation. These techniques can relax the soft tissue in the foot and the plantar fascia, relieving pain and improving healing. |
| Postural Exercises | By training your body to hold proper posture with postural exercises and neuromuscular reeducation, chiropractors improve your body’s stability and weight-bearing capabilities, ensuring that the plantar fascia is not under excess strain. |
| Orthotics | Chiropractors may use different types of custom orthotics to address plantar fasciitis such as those designed to support the arch, cushion the heel, and provide tailored support to the patient’s specific foot mechanics and gait abnormalities. |
Partnering with a chiropractor is an excellent way to treat plantar fasciitis and prevent it from coming back. That’s because chiropractic care is a proactive, holistic approach to healing that focuses on correcting imbalances in the body to promote overall improved health.
However, the most effective chiropractic care is the kind that treats the underlying cause of your pain. That’s why it’s essential to partner with a chiropractor equipped to do just that.
PostureWorks Is the Best Chiropractor for Plantar Fasciitis in Lakewood and San Francisco
Here at PostureWorks, we know just how challenging plantar fasciitis can be. That’s why we use the most advanced treatment options, such as Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP), to ensure the best results for our patients.
With CBP, we examine your entire medical history while performing an in-depth postural analysis to isolate the true cause of your pain. We then use the information we extrapolate to craft a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. We’re the best chiropractor for plantar fasciitis because we don’t just alleviate your pain; we go the extra mile by repairing your posture and realigning your spine to get you back in the driver’s seat of life without worrying about your pain returning to bite you.
Contact us today to learn more about why we’re the best chiropractor for plantar fasciitis or to schedule your appointment with PostureWorks in Lakewood or San Francisco.
Chiropractic BioPhysics®, or CBP, is a deeply researched and results-oriented corrective care technique. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health and optimal function. CBP is conservative, painless, and non-invasive, as with all chiropractic care.
