Not just backs! Plantar fasciitis
Not just backs...
In today's "Not Just Backs" we are covering plantar fasciitis, a.k.a: policeman's heel. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the fascia (a type of connective tissue) that runs along the bottom of your foot. Most people feel the pain in their heel, and find it especially painful when taking their first steps in the morning.
What can a Chiropractor do?
I usually start off my treatments with massage, however I massage more than just the foot. People with plantar fasciitis tend to be sore in their calf muscles and achilles tendon as well as their plantar fascia, so the whole lower leg is being treated.
To help loosen the muscles off even more, I may also use a technique called dry needling, which is similar to acupuncture. Once the needles are inserted, they can be left in the area to do their work, or they can be moved and twisted to help loosen the muscle off even more (trust me, it's not as bad as it sounds!).
I normally finish off by taping the area to provide the area with some support. You may have seen this brightly coloured tape before, on some of the famous athletes you follow. And finally I finish off by showing you stretches and exercises to do at home.
How to help yourself:
There are several things you can do at home to help improve symptoms
Rest - although normally I recommend walking as a great form of exercise, it's time to give your feet a break!
Wear supportive footwear - we may be in the middle of a heat wave, but your feet will not thank you for wearing flip flops!
Ice + roll - put a water bottle in the freezer, put the bottle on the floor, and roll your foot over the bottle. This is a 2 in 1 treatment as it both massages and ices the foot
Stretch - stretches for plantar fasciitis focus mostly on stretching the calves. They are really easy to do and you can find loads of examples with a quick google
Wear a support/splint - you can buy foot supports made especially for people with plantar fasciitis, a popular choice is a splint that is worn at night that keeps your foot pointing in an upright position
For more stubborn cases...
Shockwave, or "extracorporeal shockwave therapy" is increasingly being used for conditions like plantar fasciitis. A probe is used to send shock waves into the affected area. It is thought to work by increasing the blood flow to the area, therefore speeding up the healing process. On the NHS it is usually reserved for those who haven't responded to other treatments.
It is quite a strange feeling, and not necessarily the most comfortable of treatments. I would describe it a little bit like touching an electric fence, but that's just me! However rest assured it's not actually an electric shock, it is in fact sound waves.
Unfortunately shockwave is not available at Gillingham Chiropractic at the moment, but we hope to be able to offer it in the future.
Next in our "Not Just Backs" series will be hip arthritis