The significance of foot strength, power, resiliency, and functionality often goes unappreciated and overlooked. Our feet have endured years of mistreatment, crammed into ill-fitting shoes, including pointed toes and high heels, or shoes with excessive cushioning and technology. This neglect has had adverse effects on foot functionality, resulting in atrophy, heightened sensitivity, compromised structural integrity, reduced sensory input to the brain, diminished resiliency, and adaptation. Consequently, our feet have become less equipped to handle ordinary activities without subjecting their tissues to excessive stress and potential injury. In response to the rising foot pain and injuries, the footwear industry has introduced increasingly cushioned, supportive, and technologically advanced shoes, paradoxically contributing to the decline in foot function.
Within the medical profession, including chiropractors, medical doctors, and physical therapists, plantar fasciitis is often pinpointed as the primary cause of foot pain. If you seek treatment from one of these medical professionals lacking a substantial background in functional mechanics, anatomy, or pain science, they may readily diagnose you with plantar fasciitis. However, it's important to recognize that the foot comprises a multitude of structures beyond the plantar fascia. Traditional treatments for plantar fasciitis typically involve orthotics, additional shoe cushioning, cortisone injections, plantar fascia release surgery, and other interventions that do little to address the fundamental improvement of foot function.
So, what does the Health Shift approach entail? It emphasizes function. Just because you experience pain in the bottom of your foot doesn't necessarily imply that the issue originates solely in the foot. Foot pain can stem from various causes, and it's essential to understand that addressing conditions like "plantar fasciitis" or foot pain is far from straightforward. Foot injuries often necessitate rehabilitation spanning six to eighteen months, and there are no quick-fix solutions. Overly aggressive treatments can lead to further injuries, while excessively conservative approaches may not provide sufficient stress for functional adaptation. Finding the optimal therapeutic stress level for the injured foot is key to improving its structure and function.
The question of why your foot hurts can have numerous answers, ranging from the evident to the less apparent. Potential factors include soft tissue issues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or fascia) in your foot, compromised structural integrity (arch), stiffness in the big toe, altered big toe structure, extrinsic muscles originating in the calf and attaching to the foot, restricted ankle mobility, improper utilization of calf and hamstring muscles, and inadequate control, strength, and mobility in the hip. Yes, even hip and lower back issues can contribute to foot problems. Our body's ability to move and walk is a complex system with interconnected subsystems and microsystems, where each element influences others.
When seeking professional help, regardless of their expertise, if the examination focuses solely on the site of pain, it is advisable to seek a second opinion from someone who considers the body as a functional unit (Health Shift). In the human body, no structure operates in isolation, as each element has a cascading impact on others. For inquiries related to injuries, fitness, rehabilitation, or performance, please feel free to contact me via email, Facebook, Instagram, text, or phone call. I am always willing to provide my honest opinion and guidance.