Here is a scenario, you have a muscle spasm in your low back and you are leaning towards one side when you walk. What that ultimately does is putting more weight on one knee when you limp.
Now, muscles adapt to new movements fairly quickly. A week of limping may be enough to allow the knee muscles to work differently and puts different pressure onto the knee joint itself. As time goes by long after your back spasm recovers, you may notice that you get the occasional knee soreness and that might be because your joints and muscles are just used to move in the improper way.
Conversely, if you have a history of multiple ankle injuries and the ligaments are weaker, this may affect the way you walk and in turn, affect your pelvic alignment!
Ankle pain can be caused by many different things including pressure and stress of the joint itself or from secondary sources such as hip or foot instability.
To determine exactly what is the underlying cause to your ankle pain it is beneficial to get an assessment from a registered practitioner that has the ability to work on extremities. Luckily our chiropractors at The Melbourne Chiropractor have the knowledge as sports chiropractors to work on such concerns including footwear and how that can affect you longterm!
By examining the ankle and figuring out the limitations of the joint and surrounding musculature our chiropractors are able to use various techniques to help alleviate tension and pressure in the area.
If you are someone that is suffering from ankle pain, you can book online with one of our chiropractors and take the first step to getting your ankle back pain free!
Plantar fasciitis is a common foot complaint that affects a persons heel. Symptoms involve a stabbing pain/stiffness at the heel or sole of the foot. Pain is generally worse first thing in the morning and after exercise but not during it. Pain can also be triggered by long periods of standing or getting up from long periods of sitting
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia is affected. The plantar fascia is a connective tissue that runs under the foot and serves the purpose of supporting the arch and acting as a shock absorber to weight bearing activities
Plantar fasciitis occurs due to overload on the tissue, leading to degeneration and subsequent pain.
Those at greatest risk are individuals over the age of 40, athletic individuals [particularly runners], obese/overweight individuals and those with structural foot issues [flat feet/high arches’]
Treatment involves rest, ice, load management, medications and physical therapy. Physical therapy will primarily look at strengthening up the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the feet and lower leg. Insoles may also help however surgery is rarely required and often a last resort
Here are some exercises that may help speed up your recovery process Heel raise [Toes dorsiflexed] Towel toe curls Plantar Fascia stretch
Remember to consult a health care professional before commencing these exercises
If you feel like you are suffering with plantar fasciitis our team of chiropractors and remedial therapist can help you out today! We can use different treatment techniques to help reduce your symptoms, increase your mobility and implement a rehab plan to get your foot back on track!
Joint pain is a common complaint that refers to discomfort, aches or soreness in joints of the body. Joint pain most commonly is a cause of arthritis, which is inflammation or pain coming from within the joint. Joint pain varies in severity from mild pain (causing discomfort or soreness only after certain activities) or more severe which limits movement or causes weight bearing to become extremely painful.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the main cause of joint pain. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage at the ends of bones wears down over time. This can happen in any joint but the most common areas include the fingers, thumbs, neck, elbow, lower back, hips, knees and big toes. Like joint pain, Osteoarthritis can range in severity from mild to severe. Common symptoms of Osteoarthritis includes inflammation of the joint, pain and stiffness in the joint. Activity usually increases the severity causing joint swelling, decreased range of movement and muscle weakness.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is the second most common form of arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joints causing inflammation and joint damage. Rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks smaller joints of the body, such as hands, feet and wrists. Larger joints including the knees and hips can also be affected depending on the severity. Common symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include throbbing or aching pain that is worse in the morning or after sitting for a while, joint stiffness especially in the mornings, inflammation causing the joints to swell, become hot and tender to touch.
Injury/trauma
This is caused by the wearing out of a joint after any kind of physical injury. The injury could be from sport, a car accident, a fall or any other source of physical trauma. These injuries can cause damage to the cartilage and/or the bone, changing the mechanics of that joint and causing it to wear out quicker. The process of the joint wearing out can then be accelerated by further injury. Common symptoms include joint pain, swelling, joint stiffness and limited range of motion.
Chiropractic care is considered a safe practice that works to optimise the function of your joints, therefore making it possible to improve your motion with less pain. Chiropractic adjustments aim to realign the spine and improve the function of the nervous system in order to:
Reduce nerve impingement
If joints of the spine become misaligned they can apply unwanted pressure on the nerves causing pain, tingling, shooting pains and/or burning sensations. A Chiropractic adjustment aims to realign the spine in order to remove the pressure from the nerves so that they are no longer being irritated and therefore decreasing the pain felt by the patient.
Improve joint mobility
Mobility within the joints is essential when dealing with joint stiffness and pain. The adjustments performed by a Chiropractor may help to regain mobility of the joints and optimize function within the body. As you progress through your treatment, you may notice that you have more ease of mobility and flexibility. The Chiropractor may also teach you new posture exercises so that you are able to keep your spine in better alignment at home in between adjustments.
If you are having troubles with joint pain, consider seeing your local Chiropractor or and tell them about the issues you are experiencing so that they can create a tailored plan to reach your health goals. Explaining the problem to the best of your ability with adequate information of your problem to a health professional enables you to enhance your overall care as health care professionals are able to take a thorough history and complete a physical exam based on your ongoing complaint.