Seattle Chiropractor: Your Feet Were Made For Walking, So What’s The Problem?
Posted on September 27th, 2009 by admin
Your Seattle Chiropractor has treated plenty of foot pain sufferers, and knows all too well how prevalent painful foot problems are nowadays. Here’s why: We’ve all heard that movement is good for every part of body, right? In fact, our overall good health relies upon our getting regular physical exercise. If that’s the case, why do so many individuals suffer from aches and pains in their feet? After all, our feet are made for walking, aren’t they? Yes, but they aren’t designed for exploitation.
The average, healthy individual takes 3,000-5,000 steps per day, not including activities such as running and aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, frequently those steps are made by people walking inadequately, with clumsy gait patterns and bad posture.
Moreover, a large number of individuals wear badly-designed, poorly-fitting shoes. Walking and exercising on feet that are inhibited from functioning correctly cannot help but to produce aches and pains not only in a number of places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, as well. For example, if a person over-pronates (walks like a duck) in a pair of poorly-made or unevenly-worn shoes, or in any pair of high heels, that person is not only likely to develop foot and ankle challenges, but will more than likely experience aches and pains in the back, knees and legs.
The most commonplace foot problem is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a wonderfully-formed, 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, reinforces the arch, safeguards the foot, and absorbs shock. As you can see, the healthy function of the plantar fascia is vital for pain-free movement of the foot.
There are many factors that can be considered reasons for the development of Plantar Fascitis. Short and tight calf muscles are one factor. 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. What causes calf muscles to get short and tight? In addition to aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, tennis, and similar activities that involve running and jumping, the wearing of high heels can create the condition.
Other determinants that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, incorrect walking patterns (such as over-pronation), inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.
Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is generally difficult to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. Plantar Fascitis won’t go away without proper treatment.
If you are suffering from the pain of Plantar Fascitis, your chiropractor will be able to establish the cause of your condition and what chiropractic management would be most appropriate. Treatment might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.