Foot Pain
IN ATHLETES
There are thousands of people that suffer with foot pain. Dr. Todd Schragen of All Pro Health is here to help you overcome this painful problem.
The foot is comprised of 33 joints and 26 bones layered with a web of 126 muscles, nerves, and ligaments. On average, a person will be on their feet for four hours per day and takes somewhere in the ballpark of 8,000 - 10,000 steps every day.
"All Pro Health has been great. I have been going for more than a few months now. Dr. Schragen is knowledgeable and dedicated to getting me back to doing what I love. He is constantly thinking of new ways to improve my recovery and quickly adapting to changes. I continue to look forward to going to each session. Highly recommend."
Cherry Song
ABOUT FOOT PAIN
While a foot is small compared to the rest of the human body, every step exerts immense force on them. In addition to supporting weight, the foot acts as a shock absorber and as a lever to propel the leg forward, and it serves to balance and adjusts the body to uneven surfaces. About 75% of Americans experience foot pain at some point in their lives. Chronic and severe foot pain is a serious burden for one in seven older disabled women.
Foot pain is defined by the site of origin: the toes; the front of the foot (forefoot); or back of the foot (hind foot). Toe problems most often occur because shoes don’t properly fit. Pain originating in the front of the foot usually involves the five long bones that extend from the front of the arch to the bones in the toe, known as the metatarsal bones and the two small bones imbedded at the top of the first metatarsal bone, which connects to the big toe, known as the sesamoid bones. Pain coming from the back of the foot can affect parts of the foot extending from the heel, across the sole (known as the plantar) to the ball of the foot.
PLANTAR FASCIITIS
When the band that connects your calcaneus (heel bone) to the toes, the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed it can cause a lot of pain. Plantar fasciitis is most prevalent in runners, obese/overweight individuals, pregnant women, as well as people that wear improper shoes with little to no support. Other likely causes and/or contributing factors may be too much standing, Vitamin C deficiency, and a sudden change to increased activity.
The likelihood of developing this condition increases between the ages of 40 to 70. Someone suffering from plantar fasciitis may experience stabbing pain in the heel and it generally is worse first thing in the morning with the first few steps of the day. The pain often reduces with continued walking, and it is not common to experience planar fasciitis in both feet simultaneously. If left untreated, a heel spur may occur.
In order to make a proper diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, an exam must be performed. During the exam, your foot will be tested by performing reflexes, testing the muscle strength and tone, as well as coordination and balance. A structural evaluation will also be performed to check the knees, hips and pelvis. If there is poor weight distribution or improper gait (walking pattern) then that may have caused the plantar fasciitis. To rule out any other possible causes, such as a heel spur, fracture, or subluxation, an x-ray may be taken.
TREATMENT OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Plantar fasciitis can be treated with soft tissue work. The goal is to restore the full range of motion in the different joints of the ankle and foot while minimizing stress to the plantar fascia. It is also common to work on the muscles of the calf to improve flexibility.
If you are suffering from plantar fasciitis, call us at All Pro Health to see what we can do for you. While you are at home we recommend stretching your plantar fascia. This will aid in the pain and help the healing process. A great way to alleviate pain, without medication, is to perform ice massages over the site of the pain regularly. It is recommended you do this at least three to four times and day for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Use caution not to freeze your skin tissue. If it feels too cold it probably is.
To prevent the development of plantar fasciitis, it is suggested to invest in proper orthotics for arch support and to maintain a healthy weight.
If you need assistance to prevent or treat your plantar fasciitis please give our team at All Pro Health a call.
