Chiropractic Care for Plantar Fasciitis: How to Get Relief from Foot Pain Fast

Here’s what you need to know.

This painful condition, common among runners and dancers, is an inflammation of the connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. It most often develops in the heel and arch area but can occur in the ball of the foot, too. Sufferers report symptoms of stabbing pains in the heel or foot severe enough to cause limping or make it difficult to walk at all. Two million Americans, usually more women than men, are affected by this painful condition every year.

The connective tissue is the plantar fascia, joining the heel bone to the toes. This tissue aids in supporting the foot’s arch and helps with the mechanics of walking. When the tissue becomes irritated or loses its resilience, normal walking, much less running, becomes painful. If no treatment is received, the patient can develop bone spurs accompanied by even more debilitating pain.

There are a number of causes of this inflammation and pain in the fascia:

• An increase in activities like beginning a walking or running program, dancing
• The structure or shape of the foot
• The surfaces on which you stand, walk, dance, or run
• The type of shoes you wear
• Your weight, especially a recent weight gain
• Nerve compression in the foot or in the back
• Stress fracture of the calcaneus
• Reduction of the fatty tissue under the heel
• Medical conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Up to 70% of cases of plantar fasciitis can be helped successfully with chiropractic care, although recovery may take a few months. A treatment plan would involve manipulations to realign the bones and joints of the affected area. This reduces the pain and inflammation and allows the patient to return to normal activity.

Some other techniques a chiropractor may use are:

• Spinal manipulation to realign the spinal column to allow for proper function throughout the body, including the plantar fascia.
• Specific stretches and exercises to help stretch the plantar fascia so that it can handle stress without detaching from the heel bone.
• Orthotic shoe inserts designed to prevent further damage and reduce tension on the fascia.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy, or LLLT, to reduce inflammation and pain; also aids in healing the damaged tissue itself.
• Taping the affected foot to provide support during the day.
• Massage of the foot and ankle.
• Ice therapy.

There are things you can do to prevent plantar fasciitis and some self-care tactics for when you are suffering:

• Keep your weight within range for your body type.
• Switch to a low-impact activity, like swimming or biking.
• Stretch your arches as part of a home exercise routine.
• Wear athletic shoes that support and cushion your feet and replace them often.
• All shoes need good support, low heels, thick soles, adequate arch support, and cushioning. Avoid flat shoes as well as walking barefoot.
• Ice is your friend when your feet are suffering.
• Roll your feet over a frozen bottle of water.

Chiropractic care treats the causes of the discomfort rather than just the symptoms.