Friday, April 5, 2013

All About Plantar Fasciitis



The inflammation of the thick connective tissue on the bottom of your feet is called plantar fasciitis.  

It extends from the calcaneous (heel) of the foot to each individual
toe while creating the arches of our foot.  This condition has become very common in recent years due to a variety of factors.  The most common are flat or high arches, running on surfaces that are uneven, tight calf musculature (back of the lower part of the leg), quick weight gain, and choosing to wear shoes with little or no arch support (think high heels for the ladies and sandals for the guys).  Also, heel spurs (extra bone that grows as a result of too much stress being placed on a particular area or bone) can be a common cause of this condition. 
Many symptoms typically found with this inflammatory issue include foot pain upon walking when waking up in the morning, pain caused when walking up stairs or after intense activities such as running or aerobic exercises.

A good examination and health history can help diagnose this condition in most people.  At times when heel spurs may be suspected, foot x-rays can provide confirmation as to the cause of the issue at hand.  Conservative treatment works very well for plantar fasciitis.  Chiropractic adjustments of the foot and ankle complex, soft tissue modalities such as Graston Technique, as well as therapeutic ultrasound help restore normal function to the foot and help ease the inflammatory process.  At-home care can consist of icing the bottom of the foot to minimize pain and inflammation as well as stretching and strengthening specific muscle groups of the lower body to prevent further flare-ups of this problem.

If you are having foot issues, please let Dr. Kmett know so that he may help you on your road to recovery!


Valley Chiropractic maintains an active presence on many popular search and social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected or review us.

4 S. McCain Dr., #8 
Frederick, MD 21703
301-624-0024 

       google_plus_1.png 

No comments:

Post a Comment