Feet and Chiropractic

The feet do very complex work. With 26 bones and over 20 muscles in front, back and outside, both intrinsic and extrinsic, moving each bone individually and simultaneously over even surfaces and uneven surfaces in all kinds of terrain all the while carrying all our weight all day long for years and years. We get a lot out of them. We wear shoes that limit and interfere with these natural movements.

Foot pain is often related to tightness and stiffness which are the result of “trigger points” (http://www.triggerpointbook.com) which develop in the leg muscles and fascia in everyone over time. They become shortened, stiff, damaged and inflamed which makes them weaker and interferes with the natural movements of the foot and pain is the result. Most often this happens very slowly over time in just living life. They need some maintenance.

This tightness results is distorted movement patterns which change the stresses in the feet and in other areas, the knees and hips. When this happens to the lower leg muscles the next in line are the thigh muscles particularly the hamstrings. Over time this then works it way to the low back, hips and sacroiliac joints as well producing similar changes there and in this way generates and perpetuates pain very far from the source of it.

The feet should always be looked at for these reasons.

In our modern day lives our feet get weak and distorted with accompanying pain. Along with proper care, it helps to have inserts in the shoes to give our muscles exercise and keep them strong and pain free.