Your feet and ankles are important for the balance of your whole body. Not only do your feet and ankles provide support, they absorb shock. The stability of your feet and ankles are important for walking, running and jumping. And your feet and ankles have to provide mobility while adapting to different terrain.
Shock absorption is distributed through complex movements through your kinetic chain. So these forces from various movements are distributed through the lower extremity from your feet/ankle to the knee, hip, and then the pelvis. Therefore, dysfunction at your ankles or feet may have consequences throughout your entire body. Furthermore, your foot problems may be local or referred. In other words, the need for lower-extremity compensation may result in pain somewhere else, including low back pain.
Problems in the Feet
Most foot complaints are due to lack of proper support or inappropriate footwear. Ill-fitting or irritating shoes may result in corns or calluses, sesamoiditis (inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot and the tendons they are embedded in) or aggravation of hallux valgus (bunion) at the first toe, or fat pad syndrome at the heel . Moreover, tight-fitting shoes may also cause compression of metatarsals (5 forefoot bones).
Also, if the foot is too mobile (i.e., hyperpronated), there may be a lack of support. This may cause plantar fasciitis and strain of the tibialis posterior muscle (deep calf muscle). Indeed, proper shoes are important. And if you have any forefoot (front of foot) or hind foot (back of foot) abnormalities (i.e. varus or valgus) you are more likely to strain your feet.
Complicating Factors
Firstly, as the furthest part of your body, your foot is commonly affected by vascular disorders. Arterial occlusive (inadequate blood flow due to narrowing of the arteries) disorders block blood flow. Valvular insufficiency in veins along with gravity may lead to vascular stasis (veins can’t send blood back to heart).
Secondly, neurologic dysfunction associated with metabolic neuropathies can occur. For instance, as seen with diabetic neuropathy.
Thirdly, being bare footed may lead to trauma. In contrast, the supported foot is susceptible to the pressure effects and biomechanical alterations of footwear. Especially if you are diabetic this can lead to unnoticed and untreated problems due to sensory deficits (i.e. touch, temperature, pain and other sensations).
Common Conditions of the Foot and Ankle
Some common conditions involving the foot and ankle that are biomechanical in nature include the following:
- First toe-hallux valgus/rigidus (stiff first toe), turf toe (sprain to the main joint of the big toe), and sesamoiditis
- Metatarsalgia (pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot)
- Peroneal tendinitis (inflammation in the tendons that run along your outer ankle/foot)
- Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of fascia tissue on the bottom of your feet)
- Achilles tendon/heel-tendinitis, bursitis (painful inflammation of small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints) and fat pad syndrome
- Neuropathy
In addition to the above, ankle inversion and eversion sprains are very common. The most common are plantar flexion/inversion (foot turned inward) sprains. Also, chronic ankle pain and/or instability is not uncommon following repeated ankle sprains.
It is important not only to treat the acute injury, but also to prevent future occurrences. This often entails evaluation of the activity or sport coupled with a post injury rehabilitation program.
Chiropractic for Ankle and Foot Pain and Conditions at Meiri Chiropractic in West Palm Beach
Are your suffering from ankle or foot pain? We offer excellent Chiropractic adjustments/manipulation to the ankle, foot and associated areas (i.e. knee, hip, pelvis). Soft tissue techniques along with the use of modalities (i.e. heat therapy, electric muscle stimulation) and rehabilitation/home exercises are utilized along with the adjustments to get you pain-free.
At Meiri Chiropractic, we spend the time necessary to examine, diagnose and treat every neuromusculoskeletal condition and various ailments you have. Chiropractic is a holistic and natural way to not only treat foot and ankle pain, but to keep your body in its best working condition. We have been offering effective chiropractic care in West Palm Beach since 2006. Many of our patients reviews note our excellence. Call us today at 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to find out more about Chiropractic for Ankle and Foot Pain and Conditions.