How a Foot Chiropractor helps with pain in your feet and body
Updated: Jan 15
If you like to stay physically active, then you know how unsettling it is when you feel a nagging pain in your foot and other parts of your body with every step you take.
Foot pain can occur in your feet because they are complex structures of bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and skin. They may develop disorders that stem from other parts of the body. Feet are sensitive to injuries, and other problems created from wear and tear over years of supporting the weight of your body that factor into how you stand, walk, run, and jump. If you are experiencing foot trouble, it may be from a variety of dysfunctions causing the pain (limping, favouring one foot or the other, inability to put weight on the heel and/or the toes) and cause conditions like Planters Fasciitis.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
A thick band of tissue connects your feet to your heel on the bottom of your feet. This tissue protects the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves of your foot. When this band of tissue becomes inflamed, you may have Plantar Fasciitis Some of the risks that may cause plantar fasciitis are:
Intense physical activity, such as competitive runners in long-distance races.
Shoes that are not giving adequate support for your arches
Extra weight on the joints and body.
These are things that can put extra pressure on the bottom of your feet and increase your chances of developing Plantar Fasciitis and foot pain.
Foot pain can also happen when -
wearing footwear that is not correctly fitting and cramping the feet
injuries that affect the way you walk
sprains that stretch or tear ligaments,
stress fractures of bones in the foot from accidents or
overuse while engaging in sports or exercise.
How can foot problems affect other parts of your body?
Your feet are the support foundation for your whole body. Any foot dysfunction will make your whole body overcompensate, which can cause back pain and even headaches and migraines, which can lead to emotional stress, discomfort and limitations on movement from the feet to other parts of the body. You place your body under strain when your feet suffer from pain and misalignments.
As regulated healthcare professionals, Chiropodists are licensed to assess and provide treatment for various medical conditions relating to the feet, including dermatological problems, including ingrown nails, thick and discoloured nails, callous corns, warts, rashes, athlete's foot, and complications due to psoriasis and wound ulcers.
They are also trained in diabetic foot care and provide education on routine foot care. Some neurological and vascular conditions that may be causing foot pain are:
Neuropathy
Morton's Neuroma
Varicose veins/swelling
When we refer to how foot pain can affect other parts of the body, we are referring to musculoskeletal problems such as:
Bunions/hammertoes
Achilles’ tendon
Ankle instability
Arthritis
Abnormal gait
High/low arches
Shin splints
Foot-related knee, hip, or back problems
How can a Chiropractor help?
A chiropractor can help relieve your foot and ankle pain that may be causing other structural problems in areas such as your lower back, legs, and hips. Your chiropractor can suggest several tests and take a thorough history to assess the nature of your foot problem. They will measure your feet and ankles to look for any range of motion limitations to discover the source of your pain and determine the best course of treatment or refer you to a specialist like a Chiropodist.
Chiropractors are specialists in manual adjustments to the spine and joints so you can enjoy your everyday activities again as quickly as possible.
Other body structures can be relieved of and protected from painful disorders that may be creating your foot pain. Your chiropractor may recommend custom orthotics to help solve some of your foot problems. The feet function mechanically (joint motion and angles). By placing the joints, muscles and tendon/ligaments in a more efficient position, orthotics can improve the movement of the feet and lower legs, thereby treating painful symptoms.
Chiropractors can provide nutritional and lifestyle education to assist in reducing biological and psychological stresses in the body, improving your overall well-being and foot health. Chiropractors have also trained in therapeutic exercises and may recommend rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies.
Consult with a Foot Chiropractor for Help
You may think you need to undergo surgery to treat Plantar Fasciitis. but this is not always the case. A foot chiropractor may be able to use manual therapy to help with your foot pain.
Parkway Back and Foot Clinic in Stoney Creek and Hamilton area has both a chiropractor and Chiropodist available to give you an assessment of your foot problems and any other pain you are experiencing in your body.