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How Your Feet May be the Cause of Joint Pain

How Your Feet May be the Cause of Joint Pain

by | Sep 8, 2022 | Informational, Orthotics

Did you know that the average person walks between 5,000 and 7,000 steps per day? This equates to roughly 2.5 to 3.5 miles. If you’re physically active, these numbers might be even higher.

However, if you’re struggling with joint pain, you might be doing everything possible to stay off your feet while seeking solutions. This approach can impact your overall health and potentially worsen the pain as you shift to a more sedentary lifestyle. Keep reading to discover how your feet might be the root cause of your discomfort.

First: Foot Construction

Your joint pain could be related to the shape of your feet. It’s important to remember that your walking pattern affects your entire body, and the shape of your feet plays a significant role in determining how you walk.

For example, if you have excessively pronated feet, commonly known as “flat feet,” this can lead to excessive internal rotation of your lower leg while your upper leg rotates in the opposite direction. Consequently, your knee has to absorb the resulting twisting forces, which can eventually cause injury due to strain.

Conversely, abnormally high-arched feet can also present problems. This condition causes your feet to roll out excessively, leading to abnormal knee flexion while walking.

Second: Misalignment in the Feet

In addition to the shape of your feet, misalignment can contribute to joint pain. To assess this, stand up straight and face forward; ideally, your ankle bone should align with the front edge of your heel bone.

When misalignment occurs, a space called the sinus tarsus can collapse or become compressed. Various factors can lead to misalignment, including:

  • Wearing inappropriate shoes
  • Untreated or poorly healed injuries
  • Arthritis
  • Overuse
  • Genetic predispositions

Third: How Are These Factors a Cause of Joint Pain? 

It’s logical that misalignment or the shape of your feet might cause discomfort in your feet and ankles. But can these issues actually result in joint pain elsewhere in your body? Absolutely!

Misalignment and the shape of your feet affect your walking pattern, which in turn impacts how the rest of your body compensates. This creates a ripple effect, where problems originating in your feet can extend up through your back.

When your feet don’t function properly, your ankle, knee, and hip joints tend to overcompensate, which places additional pressure on these joints. If this issue persists over time, it can lead to further damage.

Fourth: Joint Pain Solutions

If you suspect that your joint pain originates in your feet, consulting a doctor is a crucial step. Your doctor can evaluate your feet and pain, and help you find effective solutions.

One potential solution that might be discussed is custom orthotics. These can help correct foot issues and, in turn, reduce joint pain.

Lastly: Decrease Your Pain

If misalignment or the shape of your feet is contributing to your joint pain, finding the right solutions can help you feel better and enhance your quality of life.

Do you believe that your feet are the cause of your joint pain?  Contact us today about custom orthotics, and let us help you walk easy.

Natural Hip Pain Treatment: Orthotic Insoles Help

Natural Hip Pain Treatment: Orthotic Insoles Help

by | Apr 2, 2022 | Informational, Orthotics

Can Orthotic Insoles Help with Hip Pain?

Chronic and acute pain are common problems for Americans, with a staggering 126 million adults reporting some level of pain in a three-month timespan.

Many of these adults experience sharp or aching pain in their hips. Your hips are two of the most important joints in your body—they’re used when you’re standing, walking, bending, and even sitting down. As such, chronic hip pain can interfere with your ability to live a normal life and do the things you love.

If you’re experiencing discomfort from arthritis, injury, or hip flexor pain, treatment is possible. Read on to learn how your chiropractor and orthotics can help.

 

Causes and Symptoms of Hip Pain

There are countless reasons why your hips could be hurting, but there are a few conditions that we see over and over. Whether your pain is chronic or acute, here are a few things to look out for.

Chronic Hip Pain

Chronic hip pain is often the result of getting older. As we age, our cartilage wears down, meaning our joints don’t have as much cushion.

However, not all hip pain is caused by aging. Some other reasons for chronic pain include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Bursitis
  • Tendonitis
  • Labral tears
  • Poor body alignment
  • Tight and inflamed hip flexors or other muscles
  • Sciatica

Chronic pain tends to worsen over time. It might feel sharp and stabbing whenever you do a certain activity or dull and achy all the time. The pain may also radiate to your groin, low back, and other areas around your hip.

Acute Hip Pain

While chronic pain often worsens gradually, acute pain is sharp and sudden. Some common causes of acute hip pain include:

  • Falls or other injuries
  • Car accidents
  • Connective tissue damage
  • Tendon or muscle sprain or strain
  • Overuse injuries

Whether your hip pain comes on suddenly and without warning or you know it’s the result of an injury, call your doctor immediately. You’ll need to eliminate serious conditions like hip fractures, dislocations, and cancer to clear you for chiropractic care.

How Orthotics Can Help Hip Pain

When many people consider their options for hip pain treatment, they often think that surgery or pain medication are the only choices. Thankfully, sometimes all you need is a little extra support.

Orthotic shoe inserts for hip pain are designed to support your feet, ankles, legs, and hips when you stand. By providing the right foundation, orthotics bring the rest of your body back into alignment. This relieves extra stress on your hip joints and allows tight muscles to relax.

Some drugstore shoe inserts claim to relieve pain in your hips, but they don’t provide the exact support your body needs. If you want the best treatment for hip pain, have your chiropractor make you a set of custom orthotics that match your unique foot shape.

Aside from orthotics, your chiropractor might also suggest getting an adjustment, stretching and exercising, or using heat and ice to reduce your pain. Following their instructions can help you avoid the need for surgery and get back to living your normal life.

See Your Chiropractor for Hip Flexor Pain Treatment and Custom Orthotics

Orthotics are great for hip flexor pain treatment, and they help with several other conditions as well. If you’re interested in getting natural treatment for hip pain, talk to your chiropractor today.

Are you looking for a chiropractor in Mill Creek, WA? Check out Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness. We can help you get the orthotics you need as well as other supporting treatments to relieve your hip pain.

Contact us online or give us a call to schedule your complimentary consultation.

What is Turf Toe?

What is Turf Toe?

by | Mar 1, 2021 | Informational, Injury, Orthotics

So do many athletes, active people, and everyday individuals who are on their feet on a regular basis. Whether this injury developed from a jammed toe or repetitive injury from sports, starting the healing process as soon as possible can limit further pain and discomfort that inevitably comes with it. What is turf toe? How can you treat it? Read on and find out the basics and how to treat it.

What is Turf Toe?

Turf Toe refers to a sprain at the base of the big toe due to excessive strain placed on the ligaments in charge of the big toe’s range of motion. Whenever the big toe is exercised beyond its standard range of motion, the ligaments can stretch and even tear. Thus, the outcome of this injury ranges from a mild sprain to a torn ligament. 

What Are the Causes?

Usually, this injury develops from athletes playing on artificial turf fields. However, athletes aren’t the only individuals who experience this condition. Walking in unsupportive shoes or even stubbing your toe can result in a sprain at the base of the big toe.

What are the Symptoms?

There are 4 common turf toe symptoms:

  • Pain at the base of the foot
  • Bruising around the ball of the foot and at the top of the big toe
  • Tenderness or swelling around the ball of the foot and top of the toe
  • Limited range of motion

As a result of these symptoms, a person suffering from this injury will have difficulty walking. Applying pressure to the foot with Turf Toe would be uncomfortable. This is because the torn ligaments in the toe make it difficult to push off the big toe. The combination of the strain and swelling causes extreme pain and discomfort.

How to Treat Turf Toe 

The ideal turf toe treatment involves reducing the swelling of the foot and immobilizing the big toe. This can be done through practicing R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate), especially in the first 24-hours of swelling.

As with most leg or foot sprains, the best practice is to keep the foot elevated as often as possible. This will relieve the strain on the toe and quicken the healing process.

If your toe does not get better after these treatments, the best thing to do is seek professional help from a doctor to ensure no further injury is caused. A doctor will perform evaluations to determine if ligaments are strained or ruptured. Depending on the severity of the issue, a doctor might prescribe a walking boot to protect the foot and/or physical therapy or chiropractic services to restore strength and flexibility.

Get Treatment for Turf Toe 

Knowing how to treat Turf Toe is essential to healing this serious injury. At Amazing Life, we offer foot pain services dealing with the heels, soles, arches, and toes. 

Your feet are your body’s foundation. Any issue related to the health of your feet should be addressed and resolved immediately. If you are dealing with Turf Toe or are recovering from it and need additional relief, contact us today for evaluations and treatment plans to get your foot back in good health.

Fallen Arches in the Feet: Everything You Need To Know

Fallen Arches in the Feet: Everything You Need To Know

by | Feb 26, 2021 | Informational, Orthotics, Pregnancy

Examining the structure of a normal adult foot reveals a visible upward arch in the midsole. This is because a network of tendons is constantly pulling the 26 small bones in the foot toward each other. However, some adult feet don’t have much of an arch, if any is present at all. This condition, known as fallen arches in the feet, happens when the tendons weaken and can’t exert enough force to maintain the natural curve. Over time, this can lead to widespread pain and a host of other symptoms.

To learn more about the consequences of fallen arches and the treatments available for them, keep reading through this guide.

What Are Fallen Arches?

Fallen arches are also called pes planus, a term that literally means “flat feet”. It affects an estimated 20-30% of people. Some of the most common fallen arches symptoms and signs include:

  • feeling tired after standing for a short time
  • swelling and/or stiffness in the feet
  • aches or pains in the heels and arches
  • difficulty scrunching or bending the feet
  • difficulty standing on toes
  • widespread pain through the legs and back
  • reduced balance

Those who think they may have flat feet can check inside their shoes for uneven wear on one side. They can also get their feet wet and make a footprint on concrete or paper. If the entire sole leaves a print, it’s time to suspect fallen arches.

What Causes Flat Feet?

Some people are born with weak tendons and have congenital fallen arches. Others develop the condition later in life due to injury, overuse, poor footwear, or degeneration due to normal aging.

Some chronic medical conditions, like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, can increase your chances of fallen arches. Obesity and pregnancy can also contribute due to the feet having to support increased weight.

How to Treat Fallen Arches

If you’re on your feet a lot during the day, investing in supportive footwear should be your first course of action. The best work boots for fallen arches also have firm heels, a natural bend at the toes, resistance to twisting motions, and a removable insole. Along with the right shoes, orthotic shoe inserts can offer even more support.

Drugstore arch-support shoe inserts are an option, but the best orthotics for fallen arches are made specially to fit your feet. Those with flat feet can visit their chiropractor for a diagnostic foot scan. Based on the results, they can get custom orthotics that support their feet in a variety of shoes.

Finally, a chiropractor may also recommend following an exercise and stretching regimen to strengthen the feet and improve their flexibility. This could include exercises like toe raises, towel scrunches, and stork stretches.

Is It Time to Seek Fallen Arches Treatment?

Those with flat feet don’t have to learn how to live with fallen arches and the pain they cause. Instead, they can learn the signs of pes planus, invest in supportive shoes, and remember to stretch and strengthen their feet.

The most important intervention, though, is investing in custom orthotics. For those in the Mill Creek, WA area, Amazing Life Chiropractic can help. Visit our “new patients” page to learn more and set up an orthotics appointment today.

Most Common Work-Related Injuries for Hairdressers

Most Common Work-Related Injuries for Hairdressers

by | Oct 7, 2020 | Injury, Orthotics, Testimonials, Video

Just about any job you can find will have some type of physical risk. The risks are obvious with manual labor jobs like construction and factory work. Even a desk job, though, is likely to lead to back pain, neck pain, and other occupational hazards.

One job that’s harder on the body than it gets credit for is the work of a hairstylist. You’re on your feet for hours at a time, and not necessarily on the most ergonomic floors either. You’re working with your arms and shoulders all day too, sometimes at odd angles.

All this adds up to a variety of work-related injuries that our chiropractic staff sees on a continuous basis. Two injuries are especially common, though: foot pain and headaches from shoulder tension.

Foot Pain

Feet were designed to take us from place to place when necessary. Our bodies weren’t meant to be standing in one place for hours on end, especially not on concrete floors. For many hairstylists, that means they end each day with sore, achy feet.

The good news is that you don’t need to grin and bear it while your foot pain gets worse. There are a few things you can do to protect your feet.

Custom Orthotics

There are specialized providers that will make custom orthotics to fit your feet. Tell them about your job and your work circumstances and they can design orthotics to support and cushion your feet throughout the day.

Foot Exercises

The right exercises can stretch and massage your feet to release the tension from standing too long. One option is the golf ball massage. Rolling a golf ball around under your bare foot will massage the hard-to-reach surfaces.  

A second option is the toe extension stretch. Sit on a chair and place your left foot on top of your right thigh. Then pull your toes upward toward your ankle.

You should feel a stretch along the bottom of your foot. Hold this for ten seconds before repeating it with your other foot. Complete several reps for each foot.

A third stretch to try is the wall calf stretch. Stand next to a wall and prop up one foot so the heel is on the floor and the ball is against the wall. Lean toward the wall to feel a stretch in the bottom of your foot and your calf. Hold it for 15 seconds on each foot.

Repeated Headaches

Not everyone recognizes the connection, but overworking your shoulders can lead to headaches. The tension from your shoulders carries through into your neck and to the nerves in your head. How do you release that tension and reduce your headaches?

Yoga for Shoulder Tension

Yoga is a great way to release tension in your shoulders and neck. In fact, there are specific yoga flows for the shoulders.

Yoga allows you to do a series of controlled stretches, usually with longer holding times than typical stretches. This both releases tension and strengthens your shoulders so they are less affected in the future.

Taking Control of Your Work-Related Injuries

The work-related injuries that come from being a hairstylist can be painful and put a damper on the career you love. Instead of sacrificing your job, try the techniques above to ease your pain.

If you prefer more direct, professional treatment, call our chiropractors for help with your aches and pains.

Heel Spurs

Heel Spurs

by | May 14, 2020 | Informational, Injury, Orthotics

Do you have a sharp pain in your heel when you stand or walk? Can you feel a small, bony lump underneath foot when you try to investigate the cause of your pain? If you can feel a small lump protruding from the bottom of your foot, then you might have a heel spur or other wise known as an Achilles spur. What is a heel spur, and what heel spur treatment options are available? Here’s what we want you to know about living with foot pain.

What is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is a calcium deposit on the underside of your heel. The deposit causes your bone to stick out, which can cause significant pain when you put pressure on it when you stand or walk.

Although heel spurs aren’t uncommon among younger people, they become more common as you get older.

What Are the Symptoms of Heel Spurs?

If you have a heel spur, you’ll experience pain all day – beginning when you stand up in the morning. It won’t take overuse to flare up. Your pain will be sharp in the morning and simmer as a dull ache until you go to sleep at night.

You may also experience heat radiating from the area. In some cases, you can even see the spur sticking out from your heel.

While heel spurs are best associated with heel pain, only 50% of people who have heel spurs experience any pain at all. It’s not uncommon for people to live with heel spurs for years and never realize it.

What Causes Heel Spurs?

The calcium deposits that cause heel spurs usually take several months to build up and cause you any grief. But what causes those deposits to occur in the first place?

Your foot is a complex web of tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones. When any one of them becomes injured, inflamed, or irritated, it can wreak havoc on your whole foot. Some of the common causes can be:

  • Long periods of standing
  • Standing on hard ground
  • Repetitive stress
  • Injuries
  • Age-related shrinkage of the fat around the heel
  • Poorly-fit shoes

If you experience a heel spur, the most likely cause is a strain on your plantar fascia or another muscle and ligament around your heel. It can also be caused when you repeatedly tear the membrane over your heel bone.

Because heel spurs are so closely linked to the plantar fascia, it’s not uncommon to confuse heel spurs with plantar fasciitis.

Can Chiropractic Care Treat Spurs?

Chiropractic care can help you deal with both heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. As chiropractors, we ensure that your foot’s biomechanics operates the way it should. Chiropractic care can help stretch your calf muscles, provide taping to protect the fascia, and prescribe custom foot orthotics for arch support.

You Don’t Have to Live with Painful Feet

Chiropractic care can help relieve your pain and keep you walking right.

Are you ready to walk without pain? Get in touch to learn how Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness can help you put your best foot forward.