Chronic Pain? Look at Your Feet!
By Sara Butler
Pain as a symptom can be misleading. The reason for this is simple -- some pain is referred pain, meaning the pain is actually caused by someplace other than where the pain is felt. Treating the painful area isn’t going to ultimately bring you relief, which is why chiropractors want to look for the root of any issue that’s causing you pain. They will hunt down the actual cause and treat it to help you find relief.
Foot dysfunction can cause a lot of issues with referred pain. Here’s what you need to know about foot dysfunctions and how your chiropractor can help.
What is a Foot Dysfunction?
A foot dysfunction is basically a faulty pattern of movement in the ankle. Your feet are made to move in distinct patterns within certain parameters. When your feet move outside of these normal parameters then you have a foot dysfunction. The two major dysfunctions of the feet are:
- Overpronation – Pronation is the rolling of the foot that allows you to launch off the big toe when you’re walking. If you overpronate then your foot turns in excessively, usually due to an improper foot arch. You may also have heard this referred to as having flat feet.
- Oversupination –Supination refers to an outward roll of the foot when walking. Oversupination occurs when the foot turns out excessively when in motion. People who have this condition usually have very high arches in their feet.
What Foot Dysfunction Can Cause
Overpronation and oversupination can cause many different kinds of musculoskeletal referred pain. Conditions caused by these foot dysfunctions are:
- Arch and foot pain
- Achilles tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Frequent sprained ankles
- Shin splints
- Knee problems
- Tight calves
- Piriformis syndrome
- Tight hip flexors
- Tight hamstrings
- Sciatica
- Herniated discs
- Chronic low back pain
Not everyone with a foot dysfunction will encounter all of these problems but as time wears on they almost certainly will experience one or more.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
Your chiropractor will be able to help you determine the root cause of any problems you are having, and if they trace them back to a foot dysfunction then they can help you figure out how to improve the issue. Many times custom orthotics can help to correct the foot dysfunction and help to restore movement that is more natural to the foot.
Your chiropractor can also align your spine and other joints to help correct any subluxations or muscle imbalances you may have as a result of the foot dysfunction.
If you suspect you may have referred pain due to a problem with your feet, discuss it with your chiropractor during your next visit to The Joint Chiropractic.