A stabbing pain near your heel, especially when you walk or run, may be plantar fasciitis. This chronic inflammation of the fascia in your foot can be chronic and seemingly impossible to resolve. Chiropractic care can help. Consult Dr. J. Zimmerman of Dr. J. Zimmerman, Health First Chiropractic Clinic in Galloway, Northfield, and Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, to see how adjustments to your posture and therapy for your foot can help alleviate the condition.
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. When the tension on this fascia becomes too great, microtears occur that result in serious discomfort. You’ll notice it as a stabbing pain on the bottom of your foot, usually right at your heel. The pain may be worse in the morning, but also appears after you’ve been sitting or standing for a long time. It may hurt during exercise, such as running or jumping, but usually these activities have a lingering effect so that your foot hurts more afterwards.
A number of conditions contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis, but sometimes it just happens because of bad luck. It often strikes people between the ages of 40 and 60, and arises due to specific types of exercise, including endurance running and aerobic dance. The way you walk, your posture, and the shoes you choose may be culprits, too. People with flat feet or the opposite, a high arch, are often more susceptible. Being overweight can contribute to the condition, and so can spending long hours on your feet.
Poor posture may cause you to walk in a way that aggravates the fascia at your arch. Chiropractic adjustments can help with spinal alignment to correct this contributing factor. If you experience plantar fasciitis more in one foot compared to the other, it may indicate an imbalance in the way you hold your body. Dr. Zimmerman can make adjustments so that you’re more likely to distribute your weight evenly and alleviate the stress on the affected side.
In addition to adjusting your spine and pelvis, Dr. Zimmerman will put you on the Runnersage, a portable machine designed specifically for your feet and lower legs, as well as hot spots in your thighs and hips. It offers acupressure massage for your feet that can help loosen up the fascia that’s overly stressed.
Dr. Zimmerman will show you simple stretches you can do every day. He may recommend orthotics to help alleviate pain, too. Regular icing and anti-inflammatories will complement your treatment.
