Can A Chiropractor Help Your Chronic Foot Pain?
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, bone spurs in your ankles or heels, or other orthopedic problems that cause chronic foot pain, you may feel as though you've tried just about everything to ease your discomfort. From gel insoles to foot massage, your attempts at relief may be fleeting; and unfortunately, the sedentary lifestyle often caused by chronic foot pain can lead to weight gain, putting even more strain on your overworked joints. Fortunately, longer-term relief may be as simple as a series of chiropractic treatments. Read on to learn more about how chiropractic adjustment can help your chronic foot pain, as well as some of the factors you'll want to consider before seeking this treatment.
How can chiropractic treatment help chronic foot pain?
While you may associate chiropractic treatment with neck and back problems, in many cases, your foot problems may stem with a misalignment of your back or pelvis. If you're not placing the bulk of your body weight in the proper positions while standing, walking, or lifting, you may wind up with subluxation, which can place more wear and tear on certain parts of your feet than they're equipped to handle. This may lead to compression in the nerves around your foot (similar to carpal tunnel syndrome with your hands) or bone spurs caused by the flattening of bone edges under stress.
By seeking adjustment from a chiropractor, you'll be able to have your neck, spine, and pelvis placed in perfect alignment again, reducing the strain on your lower body joints and easing your foot pain nearly instantly. Depending upon the degree of subluxation from which you're suffering, you may need to have several treatments in relatively quick succession before you begin to notice truly tangible effects; you'll then be able to have periodic adjustments only when you begin dealing with pain again.
What should you consider before seeking chiropractic treatment for your foot problems?
Although chiropractic treatment can offer a number of benefits to those who are suffering from foot problems, it's not for everyone. Those who have a history of neuropathy or spinal cord problems should speak to a physician before seeking chiropractic treatment; a wrong movement during the adjustment process could cause damage to some of the delicate nerve endings that surround the spinal cord.
You'll also want to ensure you're ready to make any of the necessary lifestyle changes for chiropractic treatment to be effective. For example, if you play competitive contact sports or have a job that requires you to lift multiple heavy boxes each day, it's unlikely your adjustment is going to last more than a day or two, putting your feet (and spine) at risk in the process. Instead, taking steps to reduce the wear and tear on your spine and other joints before seeking chiropractic treatment is usually the best bet.