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Sore Feet? - It May Be Plantar Fasciitis |
By:
Dr. Steven Trembecki |
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Sore Feet? - It May be Plantar Fasciitis
by Dr. Steven Trembecki
Prior to describing just exactly what Plantar Fasciitis is, we first need to know which part of the foot it affects. And before we do that we need to have a clear understanding of the anatomy of the foot.
There are a total of 26 bones in the foot. The toes contain 14 of these bones with three per toe, except the big toe, which only has two bones. These bones are arranged into three different arches which assist the foot in negotiating alterations in terrain. These arches are labeled as the transverse arch, the medial and lateral 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.
Of the two main causes of Plantar Fasciitis, an increase in weight is the most common. This can be caused by any number of factors including pregnancy, inactivity or just plain eating too much. With this increase in weight, more pressure is exerted on the bottom of the foot which in turn stretches the medial longitudinal arch and ultimately the plantar fascia itself.
A bit less common but still as painful is the effect of over-stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia ligament due to walking improperly. When we walk, most of our weight should land on the outside of the heel and transfer to the outside of the foot where we push off with our big toe and begin again. However when our foot biomechanics are off-kilter, this weight is transferred to the inside of the foot which causes the same injury as carrying too much weight.
The main problem that has been found with foot biomechanics is what is called an overpronation syndrome. Overpronation is when walking, we roll over too much on the inside of the foot. Doing so puts excessive strain on the above mentioned medial longitudinal arch and the tearing of the plantar fascia begins.
Treating Plantar Fasciitis can be accomplished by either losing the extra weight if that is the source or also by rolling a golf ball lightly under the foot which helps strip down the scar tissue. Try not to press down too hard or it is possible to bruise the foot in the process. Another recommended treatment is to have your chiropractic professional adjust your foot to help with the symptoms.
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.
Wish you could find some plantar fasciitis treatment? Check out our other articles by Dr. Steven Trembecki, D.C. on this and other chiropractic treatments. Click here to get your own unique version of this article.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article53932.html |
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