Plantar Fasciitis
As one of the most common causes of heel pain, plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. People with this condition typically experience the worst pain with those first few steps after getting up in the morning. Extended periods of standing or getting up after sitting may also trigger pain. Pain is typically less during exercise than after.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Although plantar fasciitis may develop without apparent cause, some factors may increase your risk of developing this condition:
- Age — most people with this common type of heel pain are between 40 and 60.
- Foot mechanics — people with flat feet, a high arch, or an abnormal walking pattern may experience this degenerative condition of the fascia. Those issues may affect weight distribution while standing, putting additional stress on the plantar fascia.
- Spinal misalignments — when the spine is out of alignment, it may cause back pain, leading to an altered gait pattern and plantar fasciitis.
- Obesity — people who are significantly overweight often suffer from this condition, because excess weight puts extra stress on the plantar fascia.
- Certain occupations — factory workers, nurses, teachers, and others who spend most of their working hours walking or standing on hard surfaces often experience damage to the plantar fascia.
Natural Help to Address the Condition
A chiropractor adjusts the joints in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine. These adjustments help improve function on the bottom of your feet and promote healing. Massage therapy and acupuncture also help relieve some pain. We may give patients stretching exercises and recommend ice therapy and rest.
Custom orthotics are helpful to support the foot and keep it in the optimal position for pain relief and healing. Although it may seem like the feet are screaming for comfort, what they need is structural support.
Cushioned insoles provide temporary relief, but don’t correct the overpronation that leads to plantar fasciitis. Adding orthotics to the care plan helps speed the healing process, with patients noticing relief in 3-4 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you recommend stretches I can do?
Does this type of heel pain go away on its own?
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If you think you have plantar fasciitis, contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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