We take our feet for granted most of the time — until the symptoms of an injury cause discomfort and slow us down. Three of the most common include Achilles tendinitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and posterior tibial tendinitis.
Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is a repetitive strain injury associated with your Achilles tendon, which stretches along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. This particular condition generally results in pain in the heel, especially first thing in the morning when you haven’t moved in awhile. You may notice some swelling in the area surrounding the foot that increases the more you move about your day.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Your tarsal tunnel is the slightly indented area just below your inside ankle bone. If you reach down and touch yours now, you will feel the flexor retinaculum, a ligament that extends from your ankle bone to your heel that helps protect the posterior tibial nerve, as well as all of the blood vessels and soft tissues below it. Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the posterior tibial nerve is compressed, resulting in pain throughout the tarsal tunnel area.
Posterior tibial tendinitis
The posterior tibial tendon connects your calf muscle (the muscle on the backside of your lower leg) to various bones in your foot, namely the ones on the inner and underside that are responsible for keeping your foot arched and supporting you while you walk. Thus, tendinitis can occur in this area from overuse. Some sports activities such as basketball and tennis can contribute to this condition due to increased impact.
While you may not be able to prevent all injuries, you can reduce the likelihood of repetitive strain injuries to your feet by doing the following:
– Use proper posture when you walk so that your feet impact the ground in the most natural, healthy way possible.
– Engage in lower body exercises that aren’t as hard on your feet, such as cycling, swimming, and rowing.
– Regularly stretch your lower leg area to maintain maximum flexibility and reduce any possible issues caused by overly tense muscles.
– Ask your chiropractor to examine your foot and ankle. It’s possible that focused chiropractic care and maybe massage therapy will ease tension in the joints and muscles.
If you are having pain in your feet, call our office today at 425-778-9600 for a consultation.
— Dr. Waldron