The intricacy of the network of bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles in the foot is vast. Built to be strong enough to bear body weight, foot pain is common as this area of the body is often prone to injury. Addressing foot pain immediately is essential to stopping a serious injury from forming. From the toes to the heel to the arch to the instep to the bottom of the foot (sole), foot pain can cause great discomfort, especially for active athletes. As the foundation for lower extremity movement, keeping the foot healthy is imperative for any type of physical activity.
Foot pain can arise from a variety of causes ranging from a specific injury to overuse damage due to sports or too much walking. Even something as simple as an improperly fitting shoe can cause foot pain that can become troublesome. In order to avoid a serious injury, active individuals are encouraged to address their foot pain immediately to avoid further damage. Physical therapy is often the most advantageous approach to treating foot pain. At Campbell Sports Rehab and Spine Center, our team of chiropractors and physical therapy specialists are able to handle foot pain of all kinds. The following types of foot pain are treated at our Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach facilities:
Narrowing down the location of the foot pain is an essential step in determining the ailment as well as a treatment plan. Campbell Sports Rehab and Spine Center focuses on physical therapy and chiropractic care to treat foot pain injuries head-on in order to get our patients back on the field or court as soon as possible. Our experienced sports injury team is able to customize a treatment plan that works for the individual and their particular injury. Utilizing a proven recovery approach, our goal is to reduce the patient’s pain while strengthening their core muscles to prevent future injury.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most common foot injury on the bottom of the heel. In fact, each year nearly 2 million patients suffer from this type of foot pain and are treated for fasciitis. The plantar fasciitis is a ligament located directly under the skin on the bottom of the foot and appears long and thin. Serving to connect the heel to the front of the foot and provide support to the foot’s arch, injury to the planter fasciitis can be very painful. When this band becomes inflamed and irritated plantar fasciitis is occurring. Often caused by strains and stresses to the foot, too much pressure may cause damage to the plantar fasciitis or even a tear in severe injuries. Plantar fasciitis is often caused by overuse in high impact situations such as running or other types of sports. Treating plantar fasciitis involves rest as well as a number of stretches to relieve pain.
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Calcaneal Bursitis
The Achilles tendon, otherwise referred to as the calcaneal, is one of the most vulnerable regions of the foot. When friction occurs where the calcaneal bone connects to the tendon, spaces may begin to swell between the bone and skin and will eventually inflame with bursitis. Cancaneal bursitis is most noticeable when the back of the heel is swelling and extremely tender. Those suffering from calcaneal bursitis will feel pain on their heel even from the slightest amount of pressure or movement. Athletes will also notice symptoms of calcaneal bursitis such as redness and swelling that may eventually harden. Runners often attempt to run through this pain and then cause the worsening of the bursa. Treatment for calcaneal bursitis will involve physical therapy to relieve pressure and swelling from that region.
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Achilles Tendinopathy
Over the last several years, Achilles tendinopathy has grown tremendously amongst athletes and active individuals, specifically affecting runners. Often starting as an acute pain and eventually becoming chronic, Achilles tendinopathy is marked by swelling, pain, and impaired performance due to injury to the Achilles tendon. Stiffness and weakness will begin to form in the Achilles tendon which is the area where the heel bone joins the calf muscles. More often than note, Achilles tedinopathy is caused by repeated minor injuries to the Achilles tendon which eventually grows to a more severe injury. Stretching and strengthening exercises are imperative to the healing process in physical therapy for Achilles tedinopathy.
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Metatarsalgia
Commonly called “stone bruise”, metatarsalgia is a type of inflammation and pain located in the ball of the foot (medically referred to as the metatarsal). Athletes often feel pain in the metatarsal head, which is the area where the three middle toes join with the ball of the foot. Metatarsalgia is a very common foot pain and is caused by high impact activity such as jumping or running. Depending upon the severity of the injury, metatarsalgia can cause pain in just a couple of toes or even the entire foot. A burning pain or sharp aching is often the best indicator of a metatarsalgia injury. Treatment for metatarsalgia includes ample rest paired with Achilles tendon and ankle exercises to regain strength.
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Adductor (Groin) Strain
The pectineus, the gracillis, adductor brevis and adductor longus, and adductor magnus make up the five adductor muscles located in the groin. The movement “adduction” refers to the legs pulling back towards the midline, a comment movement used extensively in sports such as sprinting, football, etc. When a sport requires a fast change in direction, an adductor (groin) strain is likely to occur, particularly when the muscles have not been warmed up appropriately. Ranging from a minor tear to a full rupture, adductor (groin) strains are treated in a variety of ways. Seeking the care of a sports injury specialist is imperative in order to take advantage of a recovery treatment plan that stretches and strengthens the groin.
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Bursitis
Foot bursitis is known as inflammation of the bursae located around the heel of the foot. A fluid-filled sac known as the bursa serves to protect the tendons and located between the two bones. The bursa in the foot is located below the calcaneus, or heel bone, and is designed to reduce friction while preventing pain. When the space between the bones and the bursa narrows, there is not enough room for normal motion. As a result, irritation is caused to both the bursa and the tendons and causes swelling. Therefore, the first step to treating bursitis involves reducing the inflammation. Physical therapy is then utilized to help return the hip bursitis patient back to normal activities.
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Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
Degenerative joint disease (DJD) more often referred to as osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorders suffered today. Most often caused by either wear and tear or aging, degenerative joint disease refers to the breaking down of cartilage that serves as a cushion to the bones at the joint. When the cartilage is broken down the bones are unable to glide over one another smoothly, causing pain and discomfort. As the ligaments and muscles become stiffer and weaker, the foot often swells. While there is technically no “cure” for degenerative joint disease (DJD), physical therapy plays an enormous role in reducing pain and swelling while improving overall range of motion.
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Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
Commonly linked to running, iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a leading cause of pain for runners in the lateral knee. The iliotibial band refers to the thick band of fascia located on the lateral side of the knee which extends over the knee and hip from the outside of the pelvis and inserted right below the knee. A vital element is providing support for runners, injury to the iliotibial band is very painful. Deemed one of the most common overuse injuries for runners, iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) comes from any activity that requires the leg to turn inwardly, most often running. Treating iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) involves immediate rest in addition to stretching and electronic stimulation via physical therapy to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
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For athletes and active individuals, foot pain can drastically alter day-to-day activity. Overuse injuries tend to be the most significant cause of foot pain, followed by injury and various conditions that affect the bones, ligaments, and tendons in the foot. Seeking medical care for these types of injuries is vital to keeping the body healthy and able to participate in sports and other physical activity. Campbell Sports Rehab and Spine Center has a team of skilled, experienced chiropractors and physical therapy experts ready to tackle your foot pain head on. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to learn more about your injury!