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Planter Fasciitis

What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis  is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of each foot and connects the heel bone to the toes begins to pull away from the bone.. This tissue not only protects the ligaments, tendons muscles and nerves of your foot, but it also allows your foot to function properly. When this band of tissue becomes inflamed, that is planter fasciitis. If left untreated, it can lead to bone spurs and debilitating pain. Patients describe the pain as feeling like a stabbing pain at the base of the heel. This pain typically worsens first thing in the morning or after long periods of sitting down. Many people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis, the pain can be chronic and lead to decreased daily activities. Rather than simply trying to reduce symptoms, Chiropractic care aims to treat the underlying cause of the discomfort. After all, the symptoms are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Quieting the symptoms, while it does offer some short-term relief, does nothing to fix the actual problem.

Plantar fasciitis commonly causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As you get up and move, the pain normally decreases, but it might return after long periods of standing or when you stand up after sitting.

The cause of plantar fasciitis is poorly understood. It is more common in runners and in people who are overweight.

Symptoms
Plantar fasciitis typically causes a stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel. The pain is usually the worst with the first few steps after awakening, although it can also be triggered by long periods of standing or when you get up from sitting.

Causes of  plantar fascia is a band of tissue (fascia) that connects your heel bone to the base of your toes. It supports the arch of the foot and absorbs shock when walking .Tension and stress on the fascia can cause small tears. Repeated stretching and tearing of the facia can irritate or inflame it, although the cause remains unclear in many cases of plantar fasciitis.
Risk factors - Even though plantar fasciitis can develop without an obvious cause, some factors can increase your risk of developing this condition. They include:

• Age. Plantar fasciitis is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
• Certain types of exercise. Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue — such as long-distance running, ballet dancing and aerobic dance — can contribute to the onset of plantar fasciitis.
• Foot mechanics. Flat feet, a high arch or even an atypical pattern of walking can affect the way weight is distributed when you're standing and can put added stress on the plantar fascia.
• Obesity. Excess pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia.
• Occupations that keep you on your feet. Factory workers, teachers and others who spend most of their work hours walking or standing on hard surfaces can be at increased risk of plantar fasciitis.

Complications -  Ignoring plantar fasciitis can result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. You're likely to change your walk to try to avoid plantar fasciitis pain, which might lead to foot, knee, hip or back problems.

Chiropractic care approaches -Plantar Fasciitis from a different point of view than traditional medicine. Rather than simply trying to reduce symptoms, Chiropractic care aims to treat the underlying cause of the discomfort. After all, the symptoms are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Quieting the symptoms, while it does offer some short-term relief, does nothing to fix the actual problem.

In order to offer long-term relief from Plantar Fasciitis, Chiropractic care works to help heal the damaged tissue of the plantar fascia and naturally reduce painful inflammation. Using a combination of techniques, a Chiropractor will able to provide fast-acting and long-lasting results.
By performing Chiropractic adjustments on the spine, a chiropractor can help to realign your spinal column, allowing for optimum functioning throughout the body, including the plantar fascia. Precise and gentle chiropractic adjustments may also be made to the bones of the foot and ankle to ensure proper alignment there as well.

Part of your Chiropractic treatment plan may also include a series of specific stretches and exercises designed to help stretch your plantar fascia so that it is able to handle stress without tearing away from the heel bone. Orthotic shoe inserts may also be recommended to prevent further damage and reduce tension on the tissue. Follow the instructions of your Chiropractor when it comes to how much to do and for how long, every case is treated on an individual basis.

Taping the affected foot is another proven technique used by Chiropractors to treat Plantar Fasciitis. For this treatment, 1 ½” wide white cotton athletic tape is used – you can easily find this tape in the athletic support and brace section of your local pharmacy or at many online locations. The foot needs to be wrapped every morning before you start your day and removed every night before you go to bed. 

If you are dealing with Plantar Fasciitis,  and you are looking to find long-lasting relief, talk with, Dr. John T. Toth,  our dedicated chiropractor at Vitality Health Center by calling 651-773-9414.

Vitality Health Center serves patients in White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Shoreview, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Arden Hills, North Oaks, Pine Springs, Grant and surrounding areas.