Chiropractic Works

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Chiropractic works! So why are there people who still don’t go to a chiropractor for care? There are plenty of misconceptions about chiropractic that keep people from getting the conservative, effective treatment they need. Let’s clear up a few things right now!

Are chiropractors “real” doctors? Chiropractic education is very similar to medical and dental education that demands three to four years of undergraduate studies and an additional four years of post-graduate education. Chiropractic coursework includes anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, neurology, x-ray, nutrition, and philosophy. In the sector of x-ray study, chiropractors , as a matter of fact, have quite a few more hours of education than medical doctors. Chiropractic studies in x-ray consist of x-ray safety, techniques, factors, positioning, and interpretation. In addition, chiropractors have more hours of study in nutrition than students in medical school receive. Chiropractors are sanctioned in all fifty states as doctors.

Is chiropractic safe? Chiropractic adjustments are considered to be one of the safest therapies for the neck and back. It is not only safe for adults, but for children and even infants. Spinal manipulation is encouraged by most medical doctors prior to a patient being recommended to undergo surgery. It is a natural, drug-free alternative to strong drugs like steroids and painkillers.

Does chiropractic hurt? Most patients feel immediate pain relief after an adjustment and increasingly more relaxing and comfortable over time. Adults and children, alike, often look forward to their chiropractic treatments.

Hope that this clears up a few misconceptions. If you are suffering from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, foot pain, or headaches and migraines, you don’t need to suffer any longer. Chiropractic works. Call your chiropractor today!

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We all know that movement is good for the whole body, right? From our head to our toes, our good health is determined by how much physical activity we get on a regular basis. So, why do so many people suffer from aches and pains in their feet? After all, aren’t our feet made for walking? Yes, but they weren’t designed for abuse. The average, healthy person takes 3,000-5,000 steps each day, not including activities such as running and aerobic exercise. But, often those steps are made by people walking incorrectly, with poor gait patterns and bad posture. In addition, a large number of people wear badly-designed, poorly-fitting shoes. Moving the body through space incorrectly on feet that are inhibited from functioning correctly cannot help but to cause aches and pains not only in a number of places in our feet, but in other parts of our body.  For example, if an individual over-pronates (walks like a duck) in a pair of poorly made or unevenly-worn shoes, or in a pair of high heels, that person is not only likely to develop foot and ankle problems, but will probably experience problems of the back, knees and legs.

One of the most well known foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a wonderful, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encircles the muscles on the bottom of the foot, adheres the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis. One such factor is short and tight calf muscles. When calf muscles get short and tight they exert a strong pull on the back of the heel bone, producing undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia. How do calf muscles get short and tight? In addition to running and jumping activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis, the wearing of high heels can cause the problem.

Other factors that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, abnormal walking patterns (such as over-pronation), improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.

Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is frequently not easy to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic management is best suited. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

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Introduction

The average person takes between 3,000 and 5,000 steps everyday. Not to mention, many of us participate in activities, such as running and aerobic exercise, that add many more steps, as well as stress to our poor, overworked feet. It is no wonder that many people have aches and pains in this part of the body. Components such as flat feet or over-pronated feet, individual walking and running style, and the type of shoe a person wears can determine if a person will experience foot and ankle pain. Also these factors can also affect the health of a person’s back, knees and legs. Listed below are several of the most prevalent conditions that affect the feet and ankle.

Hallux Valgus and Bunions

Hallux Valgus, a slow-developing condition, is apparent when the big toe or hallux angles off towards the outside of the foot, frequently practically overlapping or bumping into the adjacent toe. Furthermore, a bump, called a bunion, frequently is generated on the inside of the big toe. Hallux Valgus pain is normally felt during weight-bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing, although if a bunion has developed, a “numbing” or “burning” pain in the big toes can be felt at rest.

The joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal (the first metatarsal-phalangeal) is the true difficulty, and not the bone, itself. It is the injury to this joint that causes the pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus. Over-pronation that creates abnormal pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking causes the prolonged wear and tear that often results in Hallux Valgus. Inflammatory arthritis that damages the joint and causes degenerative changes is another cause. But, one of the most prevalent causes of the condition is the high-heeled and pointed shoes that women commonly wear. These shoes not only put added stress on the joint, but also aid in pushing the big toe to the outside.

If you have symptoms of Hallux Valgus, your chiropractor can examine your foot to determine which factors are contributing to your challenge, and then use a variety of chiropractic techniques and modalities to decrease pain and improve the function of your foot.

Plantar Fascitis ( Heel Pain )

One of the most well known foot problems is heel pain, and the cause is generally aggravation of the plantar fascia or Plantar Fascitis. The plantar fascia, a band of connective tissue that encases the muscles on the bottom of the foot, attaches the heel bone to the ball of the foot. It supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock.

Those with Plantar Fascitis many times complain of pain in the morning after first standing when they get out of bed and also when they stand up after having sat for a while. The pain begins just in front of the heel bone, but can advance over the entire bottom of the foot.

Eventually, aggravation associated with the ailment can lead to the development of scar tissue, calcium deposits and eventually heel spurs. These spurs are a bony growth on the front part of the calcaneus of the heel bone where the plantar fascia adheres and can create a sharp stabbing pain with walking

Individuals with other foot conditions, especially Pes Planus (flat feet) and/or over-pronation, are most susceptible to Plantar Fascitis, however other factors often partly responsible as well. Muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot are a crucial contributing factor. Many times the calf muscles get short and tight exerting a strong pull upon the back of the calcaneus. This creates too much stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that adhere to the other side of the calcaneus. Wearing high heels will cause a shorting and tightening of the calf muscles, as will running and jumping activities. Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, aberrant walking patterns (such as over-pronation), inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity all stress the plantar fascia.

People who are constantly on their feet, such as nurses, teachers and waiters, are more susceptible to Plantar Fascitis, as are athletes who participate in foot-stressing activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis.

Once an individual develops plantar fascitis, it is often not easy to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. Chiropractors are experts in not only determining the cause of your pain, but in recommending appropriate therapy, such as joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping, ultrasound therapy and, in some cases, orthotics.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis is a painful, and often, debilitating irritation of the Achilles tendon, also called the “heel cord.” This large tendon is a continuance of the two biggest calf muscles and runs down the back of the lower leg attaching to the heel bone or calcaneus. Damage to this valuable tendon can make it challenging or even impossible to walk. The challenge may be caused by a sudden single incident, such as jumping, but more frequently it results from an accumulation of smaller stresses that create small tears in the tendon over time. Usually, the appearance of symptoms is gradual. The irritation may be relatively minor at first, but slowly worsens if the sufferer tries to “work through” the pain. Many Achilles tendonitis sufferers ascribe their initial discomfort to the aches and pains that go along with age or fatigue. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can occur, resulting in traumatic harm and excruciating pain that makes walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.

Athletes and performers, such as dancers, whose activities contain not only running and jumping, but sudden starts and stops, are especially vulnerable to Achilles tendonitis. In addition, women who regularly wear high-heeled shoes are also at risk, particularly if they switch to sport shoes for exercise. In these cases, the Achilles tendon and muscles gradually habituate to the shortened position created by wearing high-heels, as the heel does not have to stretch all the way to the ground. When this happens, the change to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is used to, thereby producing stress and irritation. This is why, high-heels should not be worn everyday. If they are unavoidable, stretching should be done every morning and night to keep the Achilles tendon lengthened.

As mentioned above, Achilles tendonitis is often age-related, especially in men who are athletes. As a person ages, the arch tends to flatten producing over-pronation and increased stress on the Achilles tendon, as well as the calf and foot muscles. Achilles tendon pain is also common in those who exercise infrequently, such as the “weekend warrior” and in those who are just novices at exercise. In both cases, muscles and tendons have little flexility due to inactivity. Therefore, people who are just beginning to exercise after a long layoff should stretch properly, start slowly, and increase gradually.

Regardless of how it happened, if you are experiencing Achilles tendonitis symptoms, it is crucial for you to see a qualified professional. Your chiropractor is a highly-skilled professional who can help you to manage the condition before it becomes severe.

Pes Planus ( Flat Feet )

It is estimated that nearly one quarter of people have Pes Planus, more commonly known as flat feet. Every baby has flat feet, but somewhere between the ages 3-10 we develop an arch. However in certain people this development never takes place. There are a number of factors, in addition to genetic disposion that can cause flat feet, or predispose a person to the affliction. On occasion people develop arches only to have them collapse later in their life. This many times depends upon lifestyle, job, and level of activity. Age and weight also play a role in the development of the problem. Middle-aged individuals who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight individuals who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.

Some individuals have flat feet and never feel any distress, while others experience pain in the feet and knees, and occasionally in the hips and lower back as well. If you have flat feet and are experiencing pain, your chiropractor can develop a treatment plan to not only help with pain reflief, but assist in preventing further problems from developing. Chiropractic therapy includes joint adjustments to correct foot function and resolve painful symptoms. Your chiropractor may also prescribe arch-supporting insoles, called orthotics, for additional support and stability.

Metatarsalgia ( Pain in the ball of the foot )

Metatarsalgia, sometimes called “ball-of-foot pain,” is a pain in the bottom of the foot just behind the toes where the foot bends during walking. The pain is caused by a problem in one or more of the five metatarsal bones that extend from about halfway up the foot to the toes.

The feeling of pain can be limited to where the metatarsal bones connect the toe bones or it can extend along the entire length of the metatarsals, and possibly between them. Problems vary from stiffness upon movement to a burning or stinging sensation. The amount of pain depends upon whether the condition is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an inflammation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.

The reason for the condition can be either structural or functional. An example of a structural cause is when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short causing abnormal mechanics in the feet and too much stress upon this area. Flat feet or extreme arch can also alter the stresses on the metatarsals causing similar symptoms.

There are other factors that can affect these bones that are frequently in the control of the individual. These include excess body weight, tight or high-heeled shoes, and excessive or poor running or athletic training. Excess weight and the wearing high-heeled shoes both augment stress upon the metatarsal, which leads to joint pain and nerve inflammation. Repetitive foot activities, like running, directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.

A chiropractor is able to expertly treat metatarsalgia, no matter what the cause may be. After diagnosing the underlying factors, you will be offered a number of non-invasive therapies, inluding orthotics when necessary, and you will be advised on how you can avoid future pain.

See your chiropractor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the foot problems mentioned above.

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