Sore Feet? - It May be Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis:

The foot is comprised of a total of 26 individual bones. Of these, the toes contain 14 with three per toe, with the exception of the biggest of the toes, which only has two. All these bones are comprised into three separate arches which help us to negotiate differing levels of terrain. We call these arches the transverse, medial and longitudinal arches.

The arch that we are concerned with is the medial longitudinal arch which runs along the inside of the foot. Along this arch is a wide, thick ligament which runs from the heel to the balls of the feet before ending at the toes. This is the plantar fascia and when it is subjected to above average amount of strain it begins to over-stretch and tear. Now unfortunately when we rest for long periods of time such as sleeping, our body attempts to heal itself and lays down scar tissue. This doesn't pose much of a problem until rising and we find ourselves in pain as this newly formed scar tissue tears. Hence the notion that with Plantar Fasciitis, the first step is the worst.

Two reasons come to bear as to what causes the increase in tension on the plantar fascia. The most common of course, is an increase in weight due to decreased levels of activity, overeating or even pregnancy. This increase in weight puts an increased load on the bottom of the foot and a stretch of the medial longitudinal arch that results in an over-stretching of the plantar fascia, which leads to plantar fasciitis.

The second situation which could cause Plantar Fasciitis is having an improper walking gait or foot biomechanics. Normally when we walk, the majority of the weight is transferred from the outside of the heel to the outside of the foot. However with improper mechanics, the weight is transferred to the inside of the foot causing the plantar fascia to overstretch and tear once again.

One of the major problems concerning the foot biomechanics is the habit of rolling over too far onto the inside of the foot when we walk. This is called overpronation syndrome and is the main cause of excessive strain that is put on the medial longitudinal arch and ultimately the tearing of the plantar fascia.

To treat plantar fasciitis, it is best to decrease the weight gained if possible. If not, rolling a golf ball lightly under the foot will help to strip down the scar tissue. It is important to not press too hard on the golf ball in order to avoid bruising the foot. Having the foot adjusted by your chiropractic professional often helps with the symptoms as well.

The heel has two main directions in which it can move: diagonally forward or diagonally backward. Usually the heel moves backward due to tension from the Achilles tendon and from weight-bearing pressure. By adjusting the heel forward, it will relieve tension in the plantar fascia and can relieve symptoms. If these methods do not seem to offer benefit, it may be necessary to have a pair of prescription orthotics made for your feet. These are custom-fit insoles which offer support to the feet to help ensure a proper gait cycle thereby reducing the amount of strain on the plantar fascia.

Frustrated by pain caused by plantar fasciitis? Need some plantar fasciitis treatment? Check out our other articles by Dr. Steven Trembecki, D.C. on this and other chiropractic treatments.
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