“Walking is the only form of transportation in which a man proceeds erect – like a man – on his own legs, under his own power. There is immense satisfaction in that.” ― Edward Abbey
No one likes to experience pain when they walk. And this is especially true for chronic pain.
There are certain types of pain that can be far more severe than others. For example, chronic back or neck pain can be so crippling that it prevents us from engaging daily activities. Yet a chronic pain in your foot can be a bigger problem even if not as painful.
Perhaps one of the most common types of pain people suffer from is foot pain.
Not only can chronic foot pain restrict your mobility, but it can also affect your mood, increase your risk of falls, and diminish your quality of life. And if you’re suffering from chronic foot pain, you’re not alone.
An article from the National Pain Report states,
“Nearly 8 out of 10 Americans have experienced foot pain and those who suffer from chronic foot pain are significantly more likely to have pain in other parts of their body, according to a new survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).”
Common Causes of Chronic Foot Pain
There are literally dozens of conditions that can cause chronic and sometimes debilitating foot pain. While some of these are relatively mild and temporary, such as ingrown toenails or blisters, there are many others that are less common.
Here are two charts illustrating many of the common causes of foot pain:
[Illustration courtesy of Foot Pain Explored]
[Illustration courtesy of Foot Pain Explored]
Each of these conditions has its own causes and various treatments. In addition to these common causes of foot pain, there are many other conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, neuropathy and tarsal tunnel syndrome that can cause chronic pain on the tops or bottoms of the feet.
The Mayo Clinic sums it up this way,
“Injury, overuse or conditions causing inflammation involving any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the foot can cause foot pain. Arthritis is a common cause of foot pain. Injury to the nerves of the feet may result in intense burning pain, numbness or tingling (peripheral neuropathy).”
Treating Chronic Foot Pain
Perhaps one of the most painful afflictions of the foot is plantar fasciitis. How many people suffer from this condition?
According to American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) an estimated two million people in the United States will suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, one of the most common foot pains.
In addition, the APMA found that approximately 83 percent of active adults, ages 25 to 65, will experience plantar fasciitis and 10 percent of runners will suffer from it. In addition, the study found that 14 percent of sufferers reported improved symptoms simply from changing their shoes.
The Mayo Clinic describes it as an,
“[I]nflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes (plantar fascia).”
The pain typically decreases for most people as they walk around during the day but tends to come back after long periods of standing or getting up from sitting. And, while it is a common condition that runners develop, it is also quite common for overweight or obese people as well as those who have inadequate shoe support.
Less commonly, plantar fasciitis can be caused by abnormal biomechanics in the joints of the foot, knee, and or hip. In other words, an abnormal, or dysfunctional, movement in one or more of these joints can affect your walking gait.
And this dysfunction can increase stress on the soft tissues of the plantar surface and lead to plantar fasciitis.
We can effectively treat plantar fasciitis beginning with a comprehensive analysis of the position of the foot bones. This allows us to develop a therapy plan for correcting their position. Along with this approach, we work on strengthening malfunctioning and atrophied muscles.
Active Release Techniques®, or ART®, therapy has been an effective tool for patients recovering from plantar fasciitis. Using manual therapy combined with a corrective exercise plan can restore normal foot mechanics and help prevent the plantar fascia from experiencing further excess force and stress.
If you are experiencing chronic foot pain, regardless of the actual cause, make an appointment to see us for an evaluation. This is the first step to recovery, feeling well, and getting back to your usual activities.
We are confident that, with proper diagnosis and an effective therapy plan, you’ll be able to do just that!
Finding Foot Pain Relief with Pain and Performance Solutions
At your first appointment, we will learn about your present pain as well as any history of discomfort. This is because treating and relieving your foot pain starts when we understand where and how your pain started.
A full examination will help us determine which form of treatment technique and therapy will be best suited to get you on your road to recovery. Because our bodies will compensate for pain to allow us to function during our day, the pain can shift around and lead to other forms of pain.
Ultimately, getting your body healthy and working properly is the only way to achieve total recovery. In the process, your trust in us is key, as is your honesty. So, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and will answer any questions that you may have.
Our goal is to work through the sequence of pain and dysfunction in order to get your body healthy and working properly and to achieve total recovery. Don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and will answer any questions that you may have. You can reach us at (707) 636-4404 or by filling out our online contact form