Chiropractic Care for Foot Pain

Chiropractic care can address foot pain by identifying the root cause and easing discomfort. Learn more about how treatment works.

Sources of Foot Pain

Each foot consists of 26 bones, in addition to muscles and ligaments. Pain can potentially stem from:

• Pronation, or a weak arch
• Metatarsalgia, or poor alignment among the metatarsal bones
• Plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the ligaments passing from the toes to the heel
• Heel spurs, which can occur from calcium deposits
• Exercising on a hard surface, which places strain on the lower foot
• Wearing unsupportive footwear
• Poor form during exercise, which can place stress on your joints

Utilizing Chiropractic Care

Foot pain may actually be a symptom of a poorly aligned pelvis or ankle. As such, your initial assessment will involve an X-ray to determine how to proceed with treatment. Based on the results, your chiropractor may work with you to address one of the following conditions.

Leg Length Discrepancy

When one leg is shorter than the other, this places more pressure on one foot and may be accompanied by back or knee pain. An X-ray will also show more pronounced wear on the bones in the leg and foot on one side of your body. Treatment may involve improving alignment or custom orthotics to correct the discrepancy.

Ankle Adjustments

Persistent pain could be a sign of misaligned foot or ankle bones. Ankles can undergo chiropractic adjustments! Treatment will focus on realigning these bones but may not be recommended for patients with strained or torn ligaments.

Inflammation

An irritated or compressed nerve in the lower back can manifest as foot pain, or soft tissue inflammation from plantar fasciitis might be the source. Your chiropractor will determine if nerve compression is behind your pain and try to remove disruptions in the nervous system.

Spinal Alignment

Many people toss and turn at night, putting themselves in uncomfortable sleep positions that place greater strain on the body and contribute to misalignment. Chiropractic care might factor in sleep position to ease foot pain. Particularly, those who sleep on their back or side tend to stay better aligned than those who sleep on their stomach.

Active Release Techniques

This massage-based technique shortens the muscle or ligament before lengthening and assessing it for scar tissue. Once identified, the chiropractor places gentle pressure on these areas to work out the tension and determine if your body has been compensating for any weakened or constricted tissue.

Especially for plantar fasciitis, this treatment can help restore motion and decrease inflammation along the bottom of the foot, making walking and running more comfortable.

Guidance for Orthotics

Your chiropractor may suggest custom orthotics for more arch support and to improve communication between the body and nervous system. These shoe inserts, specifically designed to fit your feet, help the body realign itself and reduce stress that may be contributing to a compressed nerve, inflammation and foot pain.

We proudly offer technology called the Foot Levelers Kiosk that scans your foot to identify problems and allows us to recommend appropriate custom orthotics!
 
The Chiropractic Health Center of Glastonbury can help you address dull, aching or sharp foot pain. To learn more, contact us today.