One of the most well known foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a wonderful, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encircles the muscles on the bottom of the foot, adheres the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis. One such factor is short and tight calf muscles. When calf muscles get short and tight they exert a strong pull on the back of the heel bone, producing undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia. How do calf muscles get short and tight? In addition to running and jumping activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis, the wearing of high heels can cause the problem.

Other factors that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, abnormal walking patterns (such as over-pronation), improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.

Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is frequently not easy to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic management is best suited. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

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Age related factors such as diabetes and circulation problems can contribute to foot pain. But, excessive weight, improper footwear, and a sedentary lifestyle can also be contributing factors, as well, and at any age. Obviously, proper footwear and regular exercise, then, can play a crucial role in preventing foot problems.

Amazingly, the average person walks the equivalent of three times around the Earth in a lifetime. So, it’s not surprising that in a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it hampered their daily function.

Being farthest from the heart, the feet can often be the first part of the body to manifest complications like poor circulation and loss of feeling, both of which can lead to poor wound healing and amputation. In addition, the most common foot conditions that occur with age are arthritic joints, thinning of the fat pads cushioning the soles, plantar fascitis (inflammation of the fibrous tissue along the sole), bunions (enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe), poor circulation and fungal nails.

Excess weight simply adds to these problems. The force on your feet is about 120 percent of your weight. “Obesity puts a great amount of stress on all the supporting structures of the foot,” said Dr. Bart Gastwirth, a podiatrist at the University of Chicago.

“A lot of people think foot pain is part of the aging process and accept it, and function and walk with pain,” said Dr. Andrew Shapiro, a podiatrist in Valley Stream, N.Y. Though some foot problems are inevitable, their progress can be slowed. If you’d liked slow the progress down, here are a few questions and conditions that are important for you to address: 1) Do you have poor circulation? 2) Do your parents complain about their feet? 3) Do you have flat feet or high arches? Either puts feet at risk. 4) If you can bend back your thumb to touch your lower arm, the ligaments in your feet are probably stretchy, too, Dr. Gastwirth said. 5) Do your shoes fit? In the podiatric association’s survey, more than 34 percent of men said they could not remember the last time their feet were measured. 6) Do you wear high heels? “The high heel concentrates the force on the heel and the forefoot,” Dr. Gastwirth said. 7) Do your feet ever see the light of day? 8 ) Have you seen a podiatrist?

Believe it not, however, putting more mileage on your feet is the best way to exercise the muscles and keep them healthy. So, it’s important to lighten up, weight-wise, and wear shoes that are supportive and fit properly. And, if you’re experiencing foot pain, visit an experienced health care professional and find out why…before you walk too many more miles.

To view the original article, go to http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-footpain-ess.html
 

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Hallux Valgus and Bunions

Hallux Valgus is a problem that takes place when the big toe or hallux angles off towards the outside of the foot, many times almost overlapping or bumping into the adjacent toe. It is a slow-developing problem that normally develops a bump on the inside of the big toe, called a bunion. The pain associated with Hallux Valgus is generally apparent during weight-bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing.Although, if someone has developed a bunion, the pain can be felt at rest and is generally described as a “numbing” or “burning” sensation in the big toes.

The joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal (the first metatarsal-phalangeal) is the actual complication, and not the bone, itself. The pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus is due to injury to this joint. Over-pronation that produces undue pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking causes the prolonged wear and tear that often results in Hallux Valgus. Inflammatory arthritis that harms the joint and produces degenerative changes is a further cause. However, one of the more common causes of the affliction is the high-heeled and pointed shoes that women commonly wear. These shoes not only put added stress on the joint, but also assist in pushing the big toe to the outside.

If you have symptoms of Hallux Valgus, your chiropractor can examine your foot to determine which factors are contributing to your condition, and then use a range of chiropractic techniques and modalities to decrease pain and improve the function of your foot.

Plantar Fascitis ( Heel Pain )

Heel pain, known as Plantar Fascitis, is a well known foot ailment produced by aggravation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles on the bottom of the foot . It connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supporting the arch, protecting the foot, and absorbing shock.

People with Plantar Fascitis often complain of pain in the morning after first standing when they get out of bed and also when they stand up after having sat for a while. The pain starts just in front of the heel bone, but can extend over the entire bottom of the foot.

If left untreated, inflammation associated with the ailment can lead to the development of scar tissue, calcium deposits and finally heel spurs. These spurs are a bony growth on the front part of the calcaneus of the heel bone where the plantar fascia adheres and can produce a severe stabbing pain with walking

There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis but people who have other foot conditions, especially Pes Planus (flat feet) and over-pronation are most susceptible. One of the most important contributing factors is muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot, both of which connect to the calcaneus or heel bone. When the calf muscles are short and tight they exert an forceful pull on the back of the cancaneus. This produces undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that adhere to the other side of the calcaneus. In addition to running and jumping activities, wearing high heels can also create a shortening and tightening of the calf muscles. Other factors that stress the plantar fascia include: sudden strenuous activity after a period of long-term inactivity, abnormal walking patterns, inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces especially barefooted, and obesity.

People who are constantly on their feet, such as nurses, teachers and waiters, are more disposed to Plantar Fascitis, as are athletes who participate in foot-stressing activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis.

It is often hard to manage Plantar Fascitis once it has developed, and the condition can become extremely painful and unremitting. A chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your condition and what treatment is most appropriate. Management might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.
Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles tendon (the heel cord), is a large tendon that is a continuance of the two largest calf muscles. It runs down the back of the lower leg and adheres to the heel bone. Achilles Tendonitis is an excruciatingly painful, and often debilitating inflammation of the tendon. Injury to this significant tendon can make it difficult or even impossible to walk. Often, a debilitating injury to the tendon is the result of an accumulation of smaller stresses that create small tears over time, though a sudden, single incident, such as jumping, can also be the cause of a serious problem. Generally, the appearance of symptoms is gradual. The discomfort may be relatively minor at first, but continuously worsens if the person tries to “work through” the pain. Many Achilles tendonitis sufferers attribute their initial discomfort to the aches and pains that accompany age or fatigue. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can occur, resulting in traumatic damage and severe pain that makes walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.

Athletes and performers, such as dancers, whose activities include not only running and jumping, but sudden starts and stops, are especially vulnerable to Achilles tendonitis. In addition, women who routinely wear high-heeled shoes are also at risk, expressly if they switch to sport shoes for exercise. In these cases, the Achilles tendon and muscles gradually habituate to the shortened position produced by wearing high-heels, as the heel doesn’t need to stretch all the way to the ground. When this happens, the change to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is adapted to, thereby causing stress and irritation. If possible, high-heels should not be worn everyday. But, if it is absolutely necessary, then stretching every morning and night can help to keep the Achilles tendon lengthened.

As mentioned above, Achilles tendonitis is often age-related, expressly in men who are athletes. As a person ages, the arch tends to flatten creating over-pronation and increased stress on the Achilles tendon, as well as the calf and foot muscles. Correspondingly, problems are also common in the “weekend warrior” who exercises infrequently, as well as those who are just beginning to exercise. In such people, the muscles and tendons have little flexibility due to inactivity, and immoderacy in exercise in the beginning can create tendonitis. Therefore, people who are just starting to exercise after a long layoff should stretch properly, start slowly, and increase gradually.

No matter what the cause of the problem, if an individual is experiencing the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis, he or she should seek out a qualified professional, such as a chiropractor, to treat the problem before it becomes severe. Your chiropractor has many years of experience in treating Achilles tendonitis.

Pes Planus ( Flat Feet )

It is approximated that nearly one quarter of people have Pes Planus, more commonly known as flat feet. Human beings are not born with an arch, but develop them somewhere between ages 3-10. But in certain people this development never takes place. In addition to genetic causes, there are a number of factors that can cause flat feet, or predispose people to the condition. A person’s job, level of activity, and lifestyle can cause a previously-developed arch to collapse later in life. Age and weight also are implicated in the development of the condition. Middle-aged individuals who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight people who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.

Some individuals have flat feet and never feel any distress, while others experience pain in the feet and knees, and sometimes in the hips and lower back as well. If you have flat feet and are experiencing discomfort, your chiropractor can develop a treatment plan to not only help with pain reflief, but assist in preventing more problems from developing. Chiropractic treatment includes joint adjustments to correct foot function and resolve painful symptoms. Your chiropractor may also prescribe arch-supporting insoles, called orthotics, for additional support and stability.

Metatarsalgia ( Pain in the ball of the foot )

Metatarsalgia is frequently called “ball-of-foot pain,” as it is a pain on the sole of the foot just behind the toes where the foot bends during walking. The pain is caused by a problem in one or more of the five metatarsal bones that extend from about halfway up the foot to the toes.

The feeling of pain can be limited to where the metatarsal bones join the toe bones or it can extend along the entire length of the metatarsals, and possibly between them. Discomfort vary from stiffness upon movement to a burning or stinging sensation. This depends upon whether the condition is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an aggravation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.

The reason for the condition can be either structural or functional. When a structural problem occurs, such as when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short, it causes unusual mechanics in the feet and unnecessary on the entire area. Flat feet or extreme arch can also alter the stresses on the metatarsals causing similar symptoms.

There are other factors that can affect these bones that are many times in the control of the sufferer. These include excess body weight, tight or high-heeled shoes, and excessive or poor running or athletic training. Surplus weight and the wearing high-heeled shoes both augment stress upon the metatarsal, which leads to joint pain and nerve irritation. Repetitive foot activities, like running, directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.

A chiropractor is able to effectively treat metatarsalgia, no matter what the cause may be. After determining the underlying factors, you will be offered a number of non-invasive therapies, inluding orthotics when necessary, and you will be advised on how you can avoid future pain.

See your chiropractor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the foot problems mentioned above.

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