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Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain in adults. This condition is commonly characterized by intense pain when first standing, then a gradual reduction in discomfort as you walk. It’s caused by tiny tears in the plantar fascia – the ligament that runs the length of the bottom of your foot. There is an ongoing debate about whether or not chiropractic care can help address plantar fasciitis symptoms. Here, we’ll explore how it can help, and discuss the ways in which it cannot. What causes plantar fasciitis? This condition can be caused by several factors, including trauma from a fall, injury, or excessive exercise. Other things can exacerbate the problem, such as arthritis, prolongs periods of standing, and wearing shoes with inadequate arch support. When left untreated, plantar fasciitis can become so uncomfortable that individuals change the way they walk in an effort to alleviate the pain. This only leads to other problems, though – such as spinal misalignments and joint issues. Things Chiropractic Care Cannot Address Before we explore the ways that chiropractic care can help plantar fasciitis, let’s take a look at the things it can’t do. For example, no amount of chiropractic therapy is going to cure this condition. Plantar fasciitis is often accompanied by bone spur formation. Once these bone spurs have formed, they can only be removed through surgery. If pain becomes severe, or if it lasts for months on end, it may be time to visit an orthopedist or podiatrist. But before you do, it’s important to understand how chiropractic care can help. How Chiropractic Care Can Help Chiropractic care may not be able to remove bone spurs, but it can treat the associated muscles. For this reason, many patients decide to seek treatment from a chiropractor before settling for more invasive procedures. When it comes to plantar fasciitis, chiropractic care can: • Reduce stress around the ligament: When treating plantar fasciitis, it’s beneficial to consider the root cause. The tiny tears in the planar fascia are due to stress. Therefore, it makes sense to take steps to reduce this stress. Chiropractic adjustments can help achieve this. • Minimize secondary injuries: As aforementioned, plantar fasciitis can result in subconscious changes to the gait. This can lead to other, more complex issues with the knees, hips, ankles, lower back, and other parts of the body. When you undergo chiropractic care, it promotes the body’s natural healing ability so you can recover faster. • Be used in conjunction with other procedures: Chiropractic care is holistic and non-invasive. For this reason, it can be combined with a number of different treatments, ranging from massage therapy to cortisone injections. Chiropractic care readjusts the musculoskeletal system. This actively reduces inflammation and helps the body return to normal, healthy function. Reducing the Risk for Plantar Fasciitis The first step in preventing plantar fasciitis is to be aware of your risk factors. This condition is far more common in those who: • Are older • Run long distances • Participate in activities like aerobics, ballet, or repetitive jumping • Have flat feet • Have high arches • Walk with an improper gait • Are overweight • Stand on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time If any of these apply to you, consider scheduling an appointment with your local chiropractor. Contact Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture to Learn More To learn more about chiropractic care and plantar fasciitis, contact Dr. Cody Doyle at Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture. You can call us anytime at (817) 767-5430.
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