Every week in our clinic I get to hear about foot pain. It is one of the most common and commonly misunderstood problems in medicine. Plantar Fascitis occurs along the medial arch of the foot that can manifest pain anywhere from the inside of the heel to just behind the big toe. A huge number of people have falling arches, women more so than men. This fact along with the majority of humanity wearing shoes that aren’t fit for them is the reason Plantar Fascitis occurs so often.

The plantar fascia is a strip of muscle and tendon that extends between the inside of the heel (medial calcaneal tuberosity) and then forks into 5 pieces that fall behind all the toe bones (metatarsal heads).

Here are the treatments most commonly recommended. Take a look and see if you can figure out why the results are not long lasting.

• NSAIDS (Asprin, Ibuprofen),
• Rest,
• Ice,
• Stretching

OK! Do these look like they get to the root of the problem or are they just prolonging the symptoms? If you have been reading my articles with intent you should probably guess there is an Underlying Cause. Let’s take a trip to Biomechanics 101 and then we’ll deal with that aching foot.

Men and Women are designed differently in terms of their skeletal angles. The defining angle is that of the hip (thats one way to figure out if that skeleton in your closet is male or female). It’s called the Q-angle and the reason why a man of the same height and weight and physical ability in theory should be able to beat a women of the same height, weight and physical ability at a foot race. Men’s femurs (thigh bones) shoot relatively straight out from their hips where as women’s femurs shoot out at a greater angle which can cause all kinds of compensation downstairs in the knees and feet. This compensation is called Genu Valgum or Knocked Knees, which predisposes women to pain inside their knees, inward rolling ankles and compensatory shin splints. Just when you thought it was tough enough being a women I had to throw that one at you, sorry.

The more out of shape the individual, the more the individual wears improper foot wear and the more stress an individual puts on their feet the greater the chances of developing this condition.

Here is what I’ve found to be a very effective longer term solution and I’ll tell you why.

1. Get your feet, knees and hips assessed, X-Rayed (if necessary) and ADJUSTED by a Chiropractor! Beyond all other treatment this can be effective from the first adjustment. The joints of the feet become so locked up from the abuse and stress we inflict on them that joints lose their known flexibility and awareness in space (proprioception). A Chiropractor will aid in regaining movement and nervous system awareness and feedback to the joints of the feet.
2. Get your Chiropractor or Podiatrist to assess the need for and then if necessary fit you for custom made Orthotics. The new age of foot orthosis is so advanced. At my clinic we use computer aided laser scans of the feet that apply mathematical programs to the results of the scan creating a perfect rendition of the peaks and sloughs of the feet.  They provide support where necessary while maintaining a semi-rigid structure that allows the feet to continue working and learning, preventing muscle atrophy (weakness and degeneration).
3. Get consistent massage therapy on your feet to strip out the nasty old scar tissue. The massage therapist if savvy will use deep tissue massage and perhaps a plastic or metal tool to strip the tendon sheath. This is painful but extremely beneficial.
4. Finally along with all this your Doctor will give icing instructions, nutritional information (loads of Vitamin C) , and fun stretching and strengthening exercises like tennis ball foot rolling, yoga and towel scrunching to help your body heal.

You can see this is a broader approach to treatment that involves physically moving joints and physically stripping muscles to create physical change in joints and muscles that have been injured.

REMEMBER THIS: A PHYSICAL PROBLEM REQUIRES A PHYSICAL SOLUTION! Drugs and Rest don’t do the trick and are a huge mistake!

Take care of your feet and your whole body will thank you.

Yours in health,

Dr. M