Plantar Fasciitis and Chiropractic Care

If you spend a lot of time on your feet, whether it be for work or leisure, you may have experienced painful feet at some point. Either a short or long term issue, this can be a frustrating symptom that has the potential to limit or put a stop to your normal daily activities. If you experience severe pain along the bottom of your foot, there is a chance that you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. You’ve probably heard of this condition as it isn’t entirely uncommon, and you may also have hear that it is extremely difficult to overcome. While it does come with challenges of treatment and management, the good news is that there are options and your chiropractor may be able to help you manage this!
 
What IS plantar fasciitis?
There is a thick band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot, from your heel to your toes. This band is called the ‘plantar fascia’ and is responsible for protecting the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves of your foot, as well as allowing your foot to function appropriately while you’re on the move. Plantar fasciitis describes an inflammation of the plantar fascia.
 
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is typically an overuse injury, often seen in individuals who perform high levels of activity or spend large portions of the day on their feet. Other causes can include wearing shoes without appropriate support to the arch of the foot. Being overweight can also cause extra strain on these structures and result in inflammation.
 
How does plantar fasciitis present?
Usually begins as a mild pain that progressively becomes worse but can also present with rapid onset following an event that may aggravate the plantar fascia (change in activity, more time on feet than usual, sporting event). It typically creates a stabbing sensation on the bottom of the foot, most often near the heel but can be in other areas also. Normally a person may report pain with the first few steps getting out of bed in the morning or after periods of rest. Interestingly, the pain is usually worse AFTER exercise rather than during physical activity.
 
How to treat plantar fasciitis?
Your chiropractor can perform adjustments to your feet/ankles/knees/hips/spine which can help to alleviate pressure/pain and allow for appropriate biomechanics, giving your feet the best opportunity to relax and heal. Your chiropractor can also give you some stretches to perform on a daily basis to help relieve tension and alleviate the pain and tension associated with plantar fasciitis.
 
 
Yelverton, C., Rama, S., & Zipfel, B. (2019). Manual therapy interventions in the treatment of plantar fasciitis: A comparison of three approaches. Health SA = SA Gesondheid, 24, 1244. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1244
 
Buchanan BK, Kushner D. Plantar Fasciitis. [Updated 2022 Feb 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.