In the recent past, chiropractors have become very popular, and it’s all for good reasons. The chiropractic way provides holistic, natural, and safer remedies to back and neck pain as compared to traditional surgery.

However, while the professionals in this line of work mainly focus on the spine and the neck, most of the modern chiropractors get additional training on addressing arm and leg extremities.

Let’s take an in-depth dive into foot problems and how a chiropractor can help.

What are the Common Causes of Foot Problems?

Apart from the feet helping you to walk, they also play a crucial role in supporting and balancing the body weight. As a result, their anatomy includes bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, and skin; parts that help them to perform their roles effectively.

According to NHS, foot problems are amongst the most prevalent conditions in the world. Some of the discomforts on the feet even originate from other parts of the body.

The stress of supporting body’s organs and the skeleton weight for long periods results in normal wear and tear of the foot.

Some of the things that cause pain on this body part include but not limited to athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, diabetic neuropathy, sprains which result from a ligament tear, fractures, misuse and overuse of the foot during sporting/training activities, plantar fasciitis, and bunions just to mention a few.

The most prevalent foot condition is plantar fasciitis.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis refers to a condition that causes pain at the bottom of the heel and the area around the arch and the ankle. The pain is usually at its worse when trying to walk for the first time after coming from rest or sleep.

However, it feels better after taking a couple of steps or after exercising. Most people tend to ignore these foot discomforts until they escalate to debilitating pain.

Nevertheless, it’s vital to note, every medical professional will always recommend seeking help in the early stages when you start experiencing the above symptoms.

The chiropractic approach, is one of the best ways of alleviating pain caused by plantar fasciitis. This group of professionals treat the symptoms by getting to the root cause of the problem. They use a safe method of adjusting the foot and the ankle.

Also, they recommend other home-based pain-relieving techniques, which include:

• Exercising (avoid exercises that exert pressure on the foot)
• Placing ice cube in the inflaming areas for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours
• Wearing shoes with soft insoles and are wide
• Resting the foot on a raised posture by placing it on a stool

How do you know you Need Help with a Foot Problem?

Foot pains should not to be ignored. They may be the first sign of a problem that would otherwise escalate and lead to a more serious condition. For instance, a small ligament tear or bone fracture may not seem serious in the initial stages, but as more damage continues to happen, you may be unable to walk or need advanced treatment such as surgery.

One of the most common indicator of foot pain is walking with a limp. Due to the discomfort on one foot, an individual develops an inability to exert weight on the heel and toes of the leg in question.

Advanced symptoms include:

• Swollen feet
• Pain and burning sensation
• Tingling sensation (Pain & Needles)
• Loss of feeling on your foot
• Cold and hot feet
• Hair loss on the foot
• Wounds on the foot that wouldn’t heal

Always remember to avoid these advanced stages with early treatment.

How does Chiropractic Approach Work in Addressing Foot Problems?

It’s vital to point out that a chiropractor can’t treat torn ligaments, fractured and broken bones, or foot problems caused by complications from other conditions such as diabetic neuropathy. However, the chiropractic approach has proved to be an effective way of alleviating pain caused by plantar fasciitis.

The methods involve a specialized technique that focuses on adjusting the feet and ankles as well as aligning the spine.

The process is beneficial as it:

• Relieves stress in the plantar fascia– A ligament under inflammation or stress develops small tears that develop pain on the plantar fascia. Through precise movements and adjustments, a chiropractor reduces the pressure on the part allowing it to relax.
• Facilitates healing– With less pressure on the plantar fascia, the small tears on the ligament begin to heal. And together with nutritional adjustment, light stretching, and exercises, the method provides the most effective way of treating the condition.
• Reliable and effective pain management technique– It is a fact that proper spinal adjustments facilitate better communication across the Central Nervous System (CNS). Messages flow easily between the nerves and the brain. That’s why through adjustments to the spine and foot, a chiropractor can point to the root cause of the pain easily. Chiropractic Approach Versus Traditional Surgery Method to Foot Problems

Post-operative complications are very common in traditional surgery. Apart from the discomforts such as restlessness and sleeplessness, voting and nausea from general anesthesia, sore throat and many more that comes with the process, sometimes patients risk losing their life on the table through Haemorrhage and other complications.

That’s why for less advanced foot problems, the chiropractic way should always be the first and the recommended approach. It’s by far safer, cheaper, and effective.

We’ve Got a Solution for you

Are you in need of chiropractic care in Portland? At Starkwood Chiropractic, we pride ourselves on highly qualified chiropractors who are dedicated to helping you with your foot problems while giving you the best form and posture.

We have broad expertise in alleviating pain using safe and gentle methods. And through a personalized approach, we tailor the most effective treatment for each customer. Over our many years of discharging the service, we’ve not only helped patients with foot problems but also those with auto and workplace injuries.

More importantly, we work with other physicians in Portland to provide the best care to our clients.

For more information about our chiropractic services, contact us.