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Do you struggle with pain and tightness in the bottom of your foot? You likely feel it the most in the morning or after you run. Often, people will resort to rolling their foot out on a golf or lacrosse ball. While this is a good way for you to address the problem, the relief only lasts until the next morning, just for you to repeat the process.
At Function First Sports Chiropractic, we want to provide a plan and treatment to get you out of this cycle. We use a combination of multiple modalities to make sure that your plantar fasciitis is gone… for good!
Myofascial Release
We will begin by mobilizing the fascia on the bottom of your foot. The foot will be worked through a full active range of motion. As you shorten and lengthen the muscles on the bottom of your foot, your chiropractor will pin the adhesions, knots, and tight areas with his thumb. The bottom surface will be lengthened and released. In addition to the foot, the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) will be addressed with this technique. Tight musculature in the calf can cause the fascia to tighten. After an average of three sessions, the fascia can see permanent change. While this is an effective treatment, there are also alternative options for your practitioner to choose from.
Scraping
Scraping utilizes a metal tool to break up myofascial adhesions on the bottom of your foot. A small amount of gel is added to the targeted area to allow for a smooth glide of the tool. You’ll likely feel a gritty sensation as the tool runs over the plantar surface of your foot. As the treatment progresses, adhesions break, and the smoother the tool will glide. This treatment will improve blood flow and add elasticity to the bottom of your foot.
Chiropractic Adjustments
If your foot is stiff and immobile, it doesn’t create an environment for the tissue to readily expand and move. For this reason, we check how the joints in the ankle, foot, knee, and hip are moving. A restricted joint in one of these locations can lead to compensation in the plantar fascia. With gentle, quick, and pain-free adjustments, you can move fluidly and positively impact the tone of your plantar fascia.
The ToePro
A large part of our rehab technique will involve this tool. Developed by Dr. Tom Michaud, every aspect of its design has a purpose. It’s a foam wedge, with specific slants to encourage activation of the muscles of the foot and leg in their lengthened positions. The 10° tilt to the sides lengthens the muscles in the outer leg. The 10° backward tilt lengthens the calf and arch muscles, and the crescent-shaped elevation in the front of the ToePro lengthens the muscles of the toes. You will splay your toes and roll from your pinky toe to your big toe as you progress through a calf-up on the wedge. Strengthening these muscles in a lengthened state can counteract the effects of Plantar Fasciitis.
Schedule at F1SportsChiro.com and we will address your aches, pains, and sports injuries!
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