Your feet are crucial, and when you constantly have a nagging pain while walking, living your everyday life can be almost impossible. If you are suffering from foot pain, there's a chance that you have plantar fasciitis. The condition is common, affecting approximately 2 million Americans. It can become chronic if not treated, but the good news is that various foot treatment options are available to help you.

More About Plantar Fasciitis

The condition happens when the plantar fascia or the tendon connecting the toes to the heel becomes irritated, inflamed, and swollen. The bottom of the foot or heel hurts as you walk or stand, especially immediately after standing after sitting for a long time, or when you get up in the morning.

The foot pain is sharp and severe, and it's the most common reason behind heel pain among middle-aged people. The condition can affect anyone at any age, especially people who spend many hours walking or standing.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:

• A stabbing sensation in the bottom of the foot
• Feels as if you are stepping on a rock when pressure is applied
• The feeling may also show up elsewhere but mainly occurs near the heel
• Pain that happens when you take the first few steps after getting out of bed
• The foot pain worsens after exercise but not during physical activity

If you notice these symptoms, it's crucial to seek treatment as soon as possible. That's where chiropractic treatment and care can be helpful.

Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis

Some of the risk factors that increase the chances of developing plantar fasciitis include, but aren't limited to the following:

• Being overweight or obese
• Wearing non-supportive shoes for the arch
• High levels of physical activity, especially for long-distance runners

Anything that puts more pressure on the bottom of the feet could increase the chances of developing plantar fasciitis.

Traditional Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis

A physician may recommend pain medication to relieve pain caused by the inflammation in the plantar fascia. The medicine entails anything from over-the-counter relievers to prescription medications in more severe cases. Some doctors may also prescribe steroid injections to provide temporary relief in inflamed areas. Multiple injections aren't ideal, as they can cause permanent weakening of the plantar fascia.

In severe cases where traditional treatments fail, surgery becomes an option. Such invasive treatment methods can weaken the foot's arch and are often the last resort to treat the condition.

Chiropractic Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Chiropractic treatment methods for plantar fasciitis provide a different point of view than traditional medicine. Instead of just reducing the symptoms that tell you something is wrong, the approach aims to treat the underlying cause of the discomfort. Suppressing the symptoms offers short-term relief but doesn't fix the problem.

For long-term relief of plantar fasciitis, chiropractic care works by healing the damaged tissue of the plantar fascia to reduce painful inflammation naturally. A chiropractor uses a combination of techniques to provide fast-acting and long-lasting results.

Spine and Bone Adjustments

Through chiropractic adjustments, the specialists can adjust the ankle to promote increased range of motion throughout the foot. Precise and gentle chiropractic adjustments happen to the lower back and hips to be sure there is no compensation or increased pressure on one side versus the other.

Stretches and Exercises

Part of chiropractic treatment may also entail a series of stretches and exercises. The purpose is to stretch the plantar fascia and calf muscles to allow for better range of motion. Your chiropractor will give you some plantar fascia strengthening exercises, which are useful to help strengthen the fascia so it will tolerate more load. Your chiropractor may recommend orthotic shoe inserts to prevent further damage and reduce tissue tension. It's crucial to follow the chiropractor's instructions on how much to do and how long, given that the treatment varies from individual to individual.

Taping

Another technique involves taping the affected foot using a 1½" wide cotton athletic tape you can buy from your local pharmacy and many online locations. You must wrap the foot every morning before starting your day and remove it before bed.

Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Chiropractic treatment is highly effective in treating plantar fasciitis and the pain it causes. The technique is highly accurate, involving adjustments in the foot and ankle. Below are some benefits to chiropractic care for plantar fasciitis:

• Less stress in the plantar fascia: When a ligament is stressed or inflamed, the tissue can develop small tears that cause foot pain. Chiropractic treatment involves adjusting the heel and providing manual therapy to the foot to take the pressure off the plantar fascia, allowing it to relax.

• Faster healing: When the stress on the plantar fascia reduces, the foot begins to heal. You also may have to make lifestyle and nutritional changes to help with foot pain.

• Effective pain management: Chiropractic foot treatment is location specific and addresses the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. That means a higher effectiveness level for longer-lasting pain management.

• Reduced risk of further injury: When you have foot pain, you'll often adjust your gait to avoid the pain. Doing so puts pressure on other body parts and can lead to sore joints, back pain, and strained muscles. Chiropractors use a whole-body approach to realign the body so that you can stand and walk properly, avoiding further pain and discomfort.

Get Started with Chiropractic Care for Plantar Fasciitis

You might think you need to take prescription medication or undergo surgery for foot pain, but that's not always the best solution. Instead, a chiropractor can use manual therapy to promote healing and recovery from plantar fasciitis. If you want to return to the physical activity you used to enjoy, get complete and comprehensive treatment for the condition.

At HD Performance Chiropractic, we have a team that provides excellent chiropractic care to patients in Katy, Fulshear, Brookshire, Cinco Ranch, and Sealy, TX. We provide specialized and personalized care to enable patients to get out of pain quickly and efficiently. Contact us to schedule your appointment.