Tender Foot

Written by Joseph M. Zappala D.C | 03 August 2010


Do you wake up in the morning with pain in your feet? Do you limp for the first few steps until your legs stretch out? You may be suffering from a condition called plantar fasciitis. To find out how Dr. Z can help you correctly diagnose and treat this condition, read on. foot x-ray

One of the first areas to inspect on the examination is the heel. The center of your heel is where the plantar tendon attaches to the calcaneous.(heel) If there is significant tenderness at this point, it can suggest a heel spur is present. We then take a lateral x-ray of your foot to determine if their is in fact a spur present. Spurs are basically calcium that gets laid down in the tendon from repetitive stress to the attachment. The treatment centers around assessing the functional alignment of the ankle and foot joints. If there are misalignments in the ankle or foot, these can cause abnormal stress on the foot contributing to a fallen arch. The fallen arches can adversely affect your balance. The treatment would involve adjusting the ankle and possibly fitting you for orthotics to help support the arch. Supporting the arch takes stress of the tendon so that is can heal. Exercises are also prescribed to strengthen the arch.

Home care involves stretching your calves prior to going to bed and getting out of bed  Controlling the inflammation is also key in resolving the pain.. We recommend freezing a 16 oz water bottle and rolling your foot over it to ice the arch. Avoid direct contact with heel as this can irritate the spur. Alternatively, ice massage is also helpful. In addition, make sure to wear shoes with good arch supports at all times. Walking barefoot will only make the problem worse.

Ankle problems can lead to knee, hip and low back problems, so if you are experiencing pain in your feet or ankles, call and schedule an evaluation today. (949) 631-5226

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Joseph M. Zappala D.C - Publisher

Dr. Zappala has been a chiropractor for the last 24 years and specializes in the treatment of sports injuries, especially those related to the golf swing. He treats athletes from all sports including gymnastics, dance, tennis, baseball, football, basketball and hockey. As a former athlete, Dr. Zappala understands the functional connection between what he does as a chiropractor and how an athlete performs at his or her sport. He performs his assessments and prescribes treatment based in relieving pain and restoring function to the injured area. This often leads to increased performance and decrease in the recurrence of injuries. He preaches active care to all of his patients whether they are athletes or just aspiring to be. "Use it or lose it" 

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