Oh My Aching Feet

It's the end of the summer, a summer filled with activities, sports, and for many people, wearing flip flops! You may wonder why your feet are starting to ache more recently or your back pain is starting to flare up again.

Although fashionable, Flip flops have absolutely no arch support in them. They provide no support and encourage the musculature on the top and bottom of your feet to work harder just to keep them on and walk with them!

There is a band that lays across the musculature on the bottom of your foot called the Plantar Fascia. This tendinous band helps to support your arches. When wearing flip flops, this band has to work overtime to keep your arch supported. This typically develops into a commonly known condition called "Plantar Fasciitis". 

There are many things you can do to heal and prevent this condition.

1. Wear shoes with a good arch support. If you do not want to give up fashion, there are sandals for purchase that have arch support in them.

2. See a Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, or Podiatrist if you have pain. Chiropractors treat various conditions of the entire body, including Plantar Fasciitis. Try a natural alternative before invasive treatments.

3. Massage the bottom of your foot with a frozen ice bottle. Once the bottle is frozen, roll the bottle underneath the arch of your foot for an effective ice massage. This helps with pain and helps with inflammation!

4. Stretch, Stretch, Stretch. Calf and Soleus stretches will help alleviate some of the tension. Stand in a lung with the painful foot behind you with your leg straight and heel on the ground. Lean forward into the stretch. For Soleus stretch, bend the knee slightly. 

5. Evaluate your sleeping position. Are you sleeping with your toe pointed? If you are, this is contracting the Plantar Fascia. Sleep with your foot in a dorsi flexed position (toes up).

6. Switch to low impact exercise. If you are an avid runner or do high impact exercises, give it a rest for a couple of weeks or switch to a recumbent bicycle or elliptical trainer.

Although this is a common condition, never self diagnose. If you are having pain or discomfort, please seek help from your Chiropractic Physician or Primary Care Physician.