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Woman grabbing aching foot.

Plantar Fasciitis: How to Overcome the Pain

If you’ve ever experienced sharp, stabbing pain in your heel or arch of your foot, you may be suffering from a condition called plantar fasciitis. This condition is caused by the inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, from your heel to your toes. Plantar fasciitis is common, affecting millions of people around the world every year.

There are several things that can contribute to plantar fasciitis, such as:

  • Overuse and Abuse – we always look at how we use our feet, how we can allow for better mechanics, appropriate rest and recovery and proper support with footwear and possibly orthotics.
  • Obesity – carrying around extra weight puts additional strain on the plantar fascia, which can lead to plantar fasciitis.
  • Pregnancy – the added weight and hormonal changes of pregnancy can contribute to the condition.
  • Standing or walking for long periods of time – this repetitive stress on the feet can lead to the formation of tears in the plantar fascia.
  • Diet and environment – are you subjecting yourself to things that create an inflammatory response in general?
  • Shoes – shoes that don’t provide adequate support or cushioning or are ill-fitted can lead to problems.
  • The structure of your feet.  Many of us have feet that pronate too much, some that don’t pronate enough.  Poor mechanics are often an underlying cause of plantar fasciitis.  This can be addressed when we check and adjust you, through properly matching your footwear to your specific needs and mechanics, attention to movement patterns, how we use our feet and possibly orthotics.

There are several common treatments for plantar fasciitis, such as:

  • Rest – resting your feet will help to reduce inflammation and pain.
  • Ice baths – ice baths for your feet can also help to reduce inflammation and pain.
  • Stretching – stretching the muscles and tendons in the feet but especially in the legs, pelvis and torso can help reduce excessive loading of the feet and produce more normal forces in the feet.
  • Proper footwear and orthotics – custom orthotic devices, and sometimes even over-the-counter arch supports or heel cups, can help to take pressure off of the plantar fascia and provide relief and also reduce future abuse of the tissue.
  • Adjustments. Remedying abnormal motion or restrictions and optimizing function is essential for both short term and long term success in addressing Plantar Fasciitis.

Chiropractic care is fundamental to recovery of your health, including from plantar fasciitis. As a chiropractor, we’re trained to identify the problems that contribute to conditions that affect the overall health of the body, including the feet.

If you’re suffering from plantar fasciitis, consider visiting us for an appointment to find out how we may be able to help.

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