Feet
Proper foot function is paramount and often overlooked in overall function of the body. There are three arches in the feet (not just the large inside arch we often think about). When these arches are functioning properly the feet provide a stable foundation for the body and absorb all of the forces when your feet hit the ground. When you walk your feet accept forces equivalent to three times your bodyweight. This increases to thirty times body weight with jumping and sprinting. If your feet cannot fully absorb these forces they travel up the legs and are absorbed wherever they can be, which can adversely affect the knees, hips, and lower back.
Also, if you do not have a stable foundation problems are going to occur somewhere at sometime. It is similar to a house with a bad foundation; cracks are going to appear in the foundation and drywall sooner or later. It’s only a matter of where, when, and how severe. By maintaining optimal foot function we can provide a stable foundation for the entire body; thereby stabilizing your entire body, reinforcing it against premature wear and injury.
At Active Lifestyle we address the feet by adjusting the misalignments present. We also offer custom orthotics, which are custom molded to your feet stabilizing your foundation and shoring up your entire body.
Plantar Fasciitis is a very common and painful foot condition. Plantar Fasciitis is characterized by very intense pain on the bottom of the foot, particularly with the first few steps in the morning or after having sat for a while. It is caused by a reduction of the arches of the feet. As the arches begin to fall the foot naturally elongates. This causes the fascia, or the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot (the plantar side) to brace the foot, causing it to become thick, tight, inflamed, and very painful. Most of the time we can treat plantar fasciitis relatively easily by adjusting the feet to re-establish the arches, working on the soft tissue to reduce the tightness of the fascia, and providing custom orthotics to maintain proper arch function moving forward.