Heel Spurs and Heel Pain

Heel Spurs & Morning Heel Pain

Some people experience sharp, stabbing foot pain immediately upon awakening and getting out of bed.  Heel pain first thing in the morning is a sign that you may have a heel spur.

 

The morning foot pain associated with a heel spur normally lasts about 10 minutes or less before it begins to calm down; however the pain pattern may become worse over time until it eventually becomes constant.

 

Each foot has 26 movable tarsal bones which are arranged into a network of arches.  However when you lose the healthy alignment of one or more of those bones you may begin to develop foot pain.

 

Two of the most common foot conditions that develop as a result of misalignments are plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the soft tissues on the bottom of the foot (the plantar fascia) become overstretched, irritated and inflamed.  The classic symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis include pain on the bottom of the heel and sometimes into the arch of the foot.

 

Attaching from the heel to the five toes, the plantar fascia spans the entire plantar surface of the foot.  Due to misalignments of the tarsal bones and altered foot function, this tissue becomes overstretched and develops micro-tears near its attachment at the heel bone.

 

If the tarsal bones aren’t realigned in a timely fashion, the foot will begin to develop a bony heel spur near the attachment site of the plantar fascia.

 

It’s important to note that a heel spur does not cause pain by itself.  Rather it’s the irritation, micro-tearing and inflammation of the connecting plantar fascia that results in heel pain.

 

As plantar fasciitis remains untreated and is allowed to progress into a chronic condition, a heel spur may develop and continue to become larger and more prominent over time. Common symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis accompanied by a heel spur, includes morning heel pain first thing upon standing up.   

Specific chiropractic adjustments to the foot bones will correct the underlying mechanical problem, improve foot function and ease tissue stress.  Getting your feet adjusted is an effective, non-surgical solution for alleviating the pain associated with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

 

***Disclaimer: This content is solely for informational purposes and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. It is recommended that you seek professional advice by a licensed health care professional.

Scott Chiropractic and Wellness

Matthew Scott, DC 

5080 Virginia Pkwy Ste 550

McKinney, TX 75071
972-540-5445www.scott-chiropractic.com

How to avoid Plantar Fasciitis

Keeping Your Plantar Fascia Healthy to Avoid Fasciitis!

There are 206 bones in the human body and 52 of them are in your feet.  Most people tend to take their feet for granted – walking, running, hiking, etc., until one day they’re out of commission.

 

The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that spans the surface on the bottom of your foot.  It connects from the heel to all five toes.  This fibrous tissue commonly becomes stressed and irritated during the spring months as people become more active outdoors.

 

Studies show that nearly 3 out of 4 people will suffer with disabling foot pain at some point during their lifetime.

 

Plantar fasciitis (pain at the bottom of the heel) is commonly the result of chronic misaligned bones in the foot.  When one or more of the 26 foot bones lose their healthy alignment it causes undue stress and irritation on the plantar fascia.

 

After your feet have been adjusted there are a few stretches that can be helpful in alleviating the stress your feet and plantar fascia may experience.

 

Here are two stretches that can be helpful in reducing the stress you experience in your feet while walking or running.  These two stretches are very similar to each other, but they are distinctly different in that they stretch two separate muscles.

 

Both stretches will affect the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.  These two stretches are commonly referred to as a calf stretch or “runner’s stretch”.  The difference between the two is that one will be performed with the knee locked straight into extension and the other with the knee bent/flexed. 

 

The first stretch with the knee extended will affect the primary calf muscle known as the gastrocnemius (photo on left).  The second stretch with the knee flexed will affect the deeper muscle known as the soleus (photo on right). 

 

It is important to stretch both of these muscles on a regular daily basis, especially after prolonged periods of walking or running.  However if you experience any pain in your ankle or lower extremity while doing these stretches, you should discontinue immediately.  Pain may be indicative of a potential health problem and you should have that evaluated.

 

If you have experienced foot pain or stress and haven’t had your feet adjusted, then you may want to consider getting a checkup at our clinic this spring.  We will evaluate your feet for imbalances and misalignments of the 26 bones.

 

When there is an alignment issue or an underlying condition with the foot structure, we can often detect those problems during an examination.    

 

Disclaimer: This content is solely for informational purposes and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. It is recommended that you seek professional advice by a licensed health care professional.

Scott Chiropractic and Wellness Matthew Scott, DC  5080 Virginia Pkwy Ste 550 McKinney, TX 75070 (972) 540-5445