Chiropractic Care for Foot Problems: A Guide

You might not give much thought to your feet as long as they seem to function without complaint. However, when a musculoskeletal problem leads to chronic foot pain, or when a foot problem causes trouble elsewhere in your body, you may need to talk to your chiropractor about drug-free, surgery-free treatment options.

Once you understand the complex causes and effects involving the structure of your feet, your spinal alignment, and your overall wellness, you and your chiropractor can have an informed discussion about how to get the problem under control for the long term. Put your feet up long enough to peruse the following guide to chiropractic care for foot problems.

How Spinal Alignment Problems Cause Foot Pain

The feet receive motor and sensory signals from the brain via the spinal cord, which branches out into major leg nerves such as the sciatic nerve. Unfortunately, a problem in the lower spine can compress the spinal nerve branches that serve these nerves, causing pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the feet.

Conditions like spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, or a vertebral misalignment can cause this kind of nerve compression. However, the sciatic nerve and other major nerves can also experience compression due to poor alignment in the hip, knee, or ankle. A thorough spinal and postural exam can help pinpoint the source of the trouble.

How Foot Abnormalities Cause Discomfort Elsewhere

Just as the state of your spine can affect your feet, the state of your feet can affect your spine. Normally, the arches of your feet cushion impacts and lend the feet necessary support as you stand or shift your weight. If you have an arch problem such as flat feet, the resulting imbalance can transfer stress to your lower back.

Furthermore, arch problems can affect your feet and back at the same time. In one common condition known as plantar fasciitis, the tissues in your arches become inflamed and painful due to inadequate support. The hallmark symptom of this disorder involves heel pain that feels especially severe when you first use your feet in the morning.

How Chiropractic Care Can Treat Your Foot-Related Issues

Unlike other treatment approaches that focus on muting surface-level symptoms, chiropractic care focuses on correcting the underlying cause of those symptoms when they originate in the spinal cord. Your chiropractic treatment plan may include multiple treatment modalities aimed at improving your musculoskeletal function and eliminating nerve compression.

If your trouble stems from a spinal misalignment, your chiropractor can make adjustments to the joints involved. Even a small spinal adjustment can dramatically alter your posture and relieve nerve compression. Non-surgical spinal decompression can treat nerve symptoms caused by a herniated disc.

Chiropractic care can also treat problems originating in the feet themselves. For instance, adjustments to the joints in the feet can often ease painful issues such as arthritis. If you have flat feet, your chiropractor may prescribe custom-fitted orthotic insoles to provide extra arch support.

How You Can Avoid Future Foot Problems

Once your chiropractor has fixed your immediate foot issues, preventative care can help your feet to thrive. If you have flat feet, For example, always wear footwear with plenty of arch support, take frequent work breaks instead of standing for hours, and consider losing any excess weight that may be putting extra pressure on your feet.

Periodic chiropractic wellness exams can help you keep your spinal column in good shape, preventing the nerve compression that can create foot weakness and discomfort. Exercise can strengthen the muscles that support your spine, permitting a straighter posture and easing stress on the spinal column.

If you believe that a misalignment in your feet lies at the heart of your pain, stiffness, or other symptoms, schedule an appointment at Corner Chiropractic Center. We can evaluate your spinal alignment and foot structure to find the source of your discomfort and prescribe any necessary care to get you back on your feet.