Chiropractic for Plantar Fasciitis

What is Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia or the tendon that connects the base of the toes to the heel. This tendon helps to reinforce the strength of the foot’s arch. It’s also needed to push the ball of the foot into the ground successfully. The force of this pushing movement helps to propel the body forward during walking and running.

Since walking and running involve pushing down on the ball of the foot while moving forward, both movements place additional strain on the tendon. This eventually causes plantar fasciitis because, over time, the plantar fascia can become irritated with continual movement. Age-related or genetically determined changes can also make this tendon less elastic, increasing the odds of developing this condition.

Common Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

Since the feet uphold the body, any excess weight can increase stress on the plantar fascia, increasing the likelihood of plantar fasciitis. Some of our Health From Within patients first notice this condition when they begin a walking program. While the exercise hopefully helps them maintain or lose weight, the additional activity puts additional strain on the foot.

Other factors connected with this condition include some shoe designs and walking, running, or standing on certain surfaces. Some of our patients have feet that are more prone to developing this condition due to their shape or structure. For example, a heel that moves inward while walking is more common among our patients with plantar fasciitis. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and a handful of other medical conditions can occasionally cause plantar fasciitis to flare.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

The number one symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain. Occasionally, plantar fasciitis pain occurs as a result of sudden trauma, such as jumping down some distance or missing a step. For the most part, however, plantar fasciitis pain begins subtly and increases over time.

Some other symptoms of this condition include redness or swelling, stiffness of the heel’s bottom, an aching arch, and sharp pain when first stepping onto the foot in the morning or after prolonged rest. Such pain can sometimes feel more like a burning sensation than pain.

One of the most frustrating aspects of plantar fasciitis is that the pain changes depending on activity. Frequently, patients feel intense pain when first getting up in the morning. After a few hours, the pain usually lessens. Unfortunately, patients can’t predictably warm-up and get over their pain because excess activity can make the pain worse again. Wearing unsupportive shoes or going barefoot also worsens plantar fasciitis pain.

Here at Health From Within, our plantar fasciitis treatment focuses on eliminating pain and restoring function. Since we focus on finding and correcting as much of the underlying cause as possible, we can offer real relief to our patients. We know that healing takes time. That’s why, at Health From Within, we’re committed to helping reduce our patients’ pain beginning at their first plantar fasciitis chiropractic appointment.

While each patient’s treatment is individualized, there are a few general types of treatment that we find helpful for plantar fasciitis. These therapies have all helped our Health From Within patients feel less pain and enjoy easier movement. They have also been in numerous research studies.

Comprehensive Foot Function and Pain Evaluation

While we offer an incredible array of treatments and therapies here at Health From Within, every patient consult begins with a comprehensive foot function evaluation. Since the feet are so complex, we need to learn as much as possible about each patient’s health through physical examination, movement, nerve testing, and sometimes diagnostic imaging. This is to help them receive targeted treatment for any mechanical, nerve, or disease processes behind foot pain.

Thoroughly investigating each patient’s pain is paramount. We carefully assess the quality of each patient’s pain by asking if it is burning, stabbing, or dull. We also work hard to identify any factors that aggravate or alleviate it. Our pain evaluation helps us successfully target the source of plantar fasciitis pain to provide short-term relief and long-term solutions.

Hands-On Plantar Fasciitis Chiropractic Therapies

When most members of the general public think of chiropractic care, they envision us performing hands-on spinal adjustments. While adjusting the spine improves alignment and can help some forms of foot pain, spinal manipulation isn’t the only hands-on therapy we use here at Health From Within to treat plantar fasciitis. Many patients don’t realize we can adjust the alignment in any area of the body, including the feet. When we restore a healthier alignment in the feet, many patients feel relief because their plantar fascia is under less pressure.

Individualized Lifestyle Interventions

Although we offer an array of technology and chiropractor-driven interventions, the work we do here at Health From Within is useless if it isn’t accompanied by health-promoting lifestyle changes. Since research has shown excess weight worsens plantar fasciitis pain, we focus on helping our patients maintain or achieve a healthy weight. This includes an individualized nutrition plan since eating power-packed plant-based foods maximizes energy with minimal calorie intake.

Another important aspect of the treatment program we provide here at Health From Within is incorporating wholesome movement. Exercise is a fantastic way to boost energy and metabolism. Moreover, searching the internet for “plantar fasciitis treatment near me” might not reveal the crucial role of stretching the Achilles tendon, calf, and foot muscles. It probably won’t highlight the importance of a relaxed, neutral posture, either.

If you have plantar fasciitis or any foot-related issue, you know how much it can limit your activity and cause you pain. Our plantar fasciitis chiropractor, Dr. Ochsner, wants you to reap the most benefit possible from your plantar fasciitis treatment. The earlier we can intervene, the more we can help. Give our practice a call today at (708) 478-9850 to schedule a comprehensive plantar fasciitis consultation.