Chiropractor in Burke, VA - NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

How Flat Feet Can Cause Back Pain

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The human body is an intricate machine and everything is connected so when something goes wrong in one area, it can cause problems in other areas. The back carries a lot of the stress in the body so when there is a problem with the hips, knees, or feet, the back can bear at least some of the brunt of the pain and other effects.

This is particularly true with foot problems. When the mechanics of the foot are off it can throw off the alignment of the entire body. Overpronation and oversupination in the foot can lead to serious and chronic back pain.

What is Pronation and Overpronation?

Pronation describes the way that the foot rolls inward during its normal motion. The foot rolls inward, flattening out, as the heel’s outer edge strikes the ground.

In order for the foot to function properly there must be a significant degree of pronation. However, excessive pronation, or over pronation, can cause injury and damage to the foot and ankle. It causes the arch in the foot to flatten and the ligaments, tendons, and muscles under the foot overstretch.

What is Supination and Oversupination

Supination describes the way the foot rolls outward during its normal motion. It occurs during the push off part of the gait, particularly when running, when the heel lifts. The heel leaves the ground and the motion carries through as weight is transferred to the forefront and toes. It moves the body in a forward direction.

When there is excessive supination, or oversupination, it strains the tendons and muscles that provide stabilization for the ankle. This can cause the ankle to roll, causing injury to the ankle including sprain, a torn tendon, or ligament rupture.

Conditions and Injuries Caused by Overpronation and Oversupination

Overpronation and oversupination can cause a variety of injuries and conditions that affect not only the feet and ankles, but also the knees, hips, and back as well. Some of the more common injuries and conditions include:

  • Flat feet or posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
  • Ankle sprains
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Arch pain
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Corns
  • Shin splints
  • Heel pain
  • Tight calves
  • Calluses
  • Knee pain
  • Patellar tendonitis
  • Hip pain
  • Tight hip flexors
  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Herniated disks

How Foot Problems can Cause Back Pain

Problems with the foot can very easily cause a domino effect that extends all the way to the back. The feet are the foundation of the body and when there is a problem with the way they function it can cause the entire body to shift out of alignment.

For instance, overpronation of the foot causes a series of internal changes that extend up through the leg. The femur may rotate causing hip pain and inflammation of the sacroiliac joint which leads to back pain. Other misalignments in the body that are caused by foot problems can also lead to chronic lower back pain as well.

Chiropractic to Treat Foot Problems

Chiropractic seeks to find the cause of the conditions it is used to treat, including pain, instead of just treating symptoms. Because of this, the chiropractor will work to find the cause of the pain, in this case overpronation and oversupination, and correct it – or the effects of the condition – in addition to treating the pack pain.

Typically, overpronation and oversupination are caused by muscle imbalances in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. This can be caused by improper shoes, misalignment in the body, and other issues. The chiropractor will work with the patient to find the cause of the foot problem so that can be corrected, then work to correct the damage or injury that has been done.

How Chiropractic Helps Relieve Stress

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Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In fact, it is becoming a sort of new normal in today’s hectic, fast paced, high pressure society.

However, a large percentage of the United States population is feeling a significant impact from the stress in their lives; 77 percent say they experience physical stress related symptoms on a regular basis. Additionally, 73 percent report experiencing stress related psychological symptoms including anxiety and depression. These are not accurate numbers though because many people never seek help for their stress issues.

Stress symptoms should not be taken lightly. It is important to address the symptoms and find ways to reduce the stress. Chiropractic is an effective stress reliever.

What is stress?

In literal terms, stress is the state of emotional or mental strain, pressure, or tension that result from difficulties, adverse situations, or extremely demanding circumstances. However, the very nature of stress by definition makes it very subjective. What is an adverse situation to one person may not even faze another. What one person finds to be an extremely demanding circumstance would to another barely warrant a second thought. This makes it difficult to pin down a precise, universal definition. More often, the term stress is more often used to describe the set of symptoms that are caused by stress and those symptoms can be as varied as the people who experience them.

What are the symptoms of stress?

Stress symptoms can affect the entire body, both physically and mentally. Common symptoms of stress include:

  • Sleep problems
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Muscle tension
  • Lower back pain
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of motivation
  • Irritability
  • Headache
  • Restlessness
  • Chest pain
  • Feelings of being overwhelmed
  • Decrease or increase in sex drive
  • Inability to focus
  • Undereating or overeating

How do stress symptoms affect health?

Technically, stress itself does not have a negative impact on health. Some people deal with situations that others would consider to be stressful, yet they never exhibit the first symptom. This again speaks to the subjective nature of stress. Different people experience different symptoms and it is a combination of the stress symptoms and how the person handles those symptoms that adversely affect health.

Ultimately, stress symptoms can lead to some very serious conditions including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and even certain cancers. Psychologically, it can lead to social withdrawal and social phobias. It is also often directly linked to alcohol and drug abuse.

How can chiropractic help relieve stress symptoms?

Chiropractic cannot get rid of stress, but it can help relieve stress symptoms. The more stress the body endures, the more sensitive it becomes to pain and physical imbalances. Chiropractic can help with bringing the body back into balance, aligning the spine, and relieving pain.

On a larger scale, the simple act of aligning the spine helps to relieve stress in the body that the person may not even be aware of experiencing. The physical stress of a misaligned spine can exacerbate stress symptoms and make a person more susceptible to stressful stimuli in their environment.

Chiropractic helps to improve circulation which is essential in relieving muscle tension. This is integral in achieving and maintaining a relaxed, balanced state. It shuts down the fight or flight response that is a common accompaniment to stress, and allows the body to rest and heal.

Stress symptoms are should not be ignored. They can lead to several very serious health conditions. If you are experiencing stress in your life or stress symptoms (you don’t have to recognize that you are under stress to experience its symptoms) pay attention. Those symptoms aren’t likely to go away but instead get worse. Take care of yourself; get help for your stress.

What Is Posterior Tibial Tendonitis?

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Posterior tibial tendonitis is a very common ankle and foot problem that occurs when there is a tear or inflammation in the posterior tibial tendon – the tendon that is at the back of the ankle and is the key player in stabilizing the foot. The inflammation or tear affects the integrity of the tendon, weakening it so that is no longer provides the support or stability of the arch of the foot. This results in what is commonly known as flatfoot.

While this condition rarely requires surgery, there is pain, sometimes severe, swelling, and impaired mobility associated with it. Chiropractic for flatfoot has been found to be very effective for most patients, helping them heal faster and manage their pain.

What causes posterior tibial tendon dysfunction?

The most common causes of flatfoot are overuse and injury. Falls are common culprits, causing injury to the tendon so that it tears or becomes inflamed.

Overtraining, particularly in high impact exercise or sports like basketball, dancing, soccer, and high impact aerobics can get tears due to the repetitive motion and constant pressure on the foot. Once the tendon is torn or inflamed, the arch begins to collapse until eventually the foot is flat.

This condition occurs more often in women than men. Also, people over 40 seem to be more prone to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, although it can occur in younger people who overtrain or have any of the other risk factors including diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

What are the symptoms of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction?

Pain is the first and most common indicator of flatfoot. It typically is located where the tendon lies; along the inner portion of the ankle and foot. Sometimes swelling may be present.

The patient will also notice that the pain increases with activity. High impact or high intensity activities can be excruciating and quite difficult. It can get to the point where standing or walking for extended periods of time are very painful.

In advanced stages, the pain may shift to the outer portion of the ankle. As the arch collapses, the movement may cause the heel bone to shift outward. This, in turn, puts pressure on the outer ankle bone.

How is posterior tibial tendon dysfunction treated?

The treatment for flatfoot depends on the severity of the condition. Most patients can avoid surgery, but it is still a long healing process.

Typically, the patient will be advised to rest and ice the area, switch to low impact exercise, and take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication for the pain. In moderate to severe cases, the patient may be put in a walking boot or short leg cast for 6 to 8 weeks in order to immobilize the foot and ankle, letting the tendon rest and heal. The downside of this is that the other muscles around the ankle will also “rest” and atrophy as a result.

Shoe inserts, or orthotics, as well as braces are also common treatments for flatfoot.  Muscular treatment to the posterior tibial muscle helps reduce the strain on the tendon.  Dry Needling, Active Release Techniques and Graston Technique are very effective at releasing tightness in the posterior tibial muscle.

In more severe cases, the doctor may recommend a steroid injection directly into the tendon although there is an increased risk of the tendon rupturing. Surgery is usually a last resort and it is much more complex. Patients who undergo surgery for flatfoot rarely regain all of the mobility they had prior to the operation.

Chiropractic for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

There has been a great deal of success in using chiropractic to treat flatfoot. The chiropractor will typically recommend rest and ice as well as chiropractic manipulations to help bring the ankle, foot, and leg back into alignment to counteract the weakened tendon. Often the ankle will lose mobility as the arch collapses and the bones in the foot and ankle shift. This, in turn, causes the arch to collapse even more.

By using chiropractic techniques to bring the ankle back into alignment, thus restoring the forward glide of the joint, they can alleviate the pain and help heal the condition. They may also recommend an air brace to stabilize the ankle when the patient will be doing a lot of walking as well as advise on lifestyle changes such as weight loss and a healthy diet. Often patients who have tried working with medical doctors to cure their flatfoot but were unsuccessful, were finally able to gain relief and improvement when they started working with their chiropractor.

Growing Up with Good Posture

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Bottom Line:

“Sit up straight!” We’ve all heard it (or said it) a million times, but many people aren’t aware that poor posture as a kid can create health challenges later in life. Rounded shoulders (scapular protrusion), swayback (lumbar hyperlordosis) and a hunched upper back (thoracic hyperkyphosis) are all postural imbalances that place a tremendous amount of stress on the spine. The muscles supporting your spine consequently must work harder to support your body weight which can result in pain. These types of abnormal postures have been linked to everything from depression to decreases in energy and headaches to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Why it Matters:

Poor posture is usually caused by what kids aren’t doing instead of what they are doing. If your child is on their phone or playing a game on their tablet, they probably may not be moving and stretching very often. One of the most important things you can do to encourage good posture is to set a timer and have them stretch and change positions every 15 minutes. This will allow their spine, muscles and joints to decompress and reset. By breaking the pattern of poor posture, you can help reduce the likelihood of your child experiencing pain.

  • Over 50% of children display the clinical signs of abnormal posture.
  • Excessive weight and decreased physical activity are risk factors for postural issues.
  • Setting aside daily times for physical play can help support stronger muscles and improved posture.

Next Steps:

If your child is suffering from back pain, neck pain or headaches, postural issues may likely be part of the cause. Next time you’re in the office, ask us for a quick posture screen for your child. We would be happy to let you know how they can improve their posture and reduce the risk of future aches and pains!

 

Science Source:

Prevalence of postural deviations and associated factors in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Fisioterapia em Movimento 2016

How Smartphones Are Killing Our Spines & What To Do About It

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It’s no secret that almost everyone has a smartphone. In fact, a series of surveys by The Pew Institute in 2015 showed that 64% of American adults now own a smartphone of some kind. They keep us connected, offer us flexibility, and provide us with access to endless information.

They have their drawbacks. Smartphones also do a number on your spine.

Frequently hunching over your phone, texting, surfing, or reading takes a toll on your spine in numerous ways.

Pressure

According to spine surgeon Kenneth Hansraj, looking down at your smartphone exerts up to 60 pounds of pressure on your head. This is serious wear and tear, and can set you up to be a prime candidate for degenerative issues.

Pain

The motion of texting or surfing the net on your smartphone can cause tightness in your shoulders, and pain radiating down your arms into your wrists and hands. Too many hours spent on your device can also cause upper and lower back pain.

Muscle spasms

Over time, your smartphone usage may damage your upper back to the point you begin dealing with muscle spasms, often attributed to “text neck.”

Instead of woefully shutting you beloved smartphone in a drawer, vowing to never use it again, realize there are ways to keep your phone and a healthy spine intact. You just need to take a few simple precautions. Here are four ways to prevent spinal issues from smartphone usage, and handle the ones you may already have.

#1: Be aware of your posture.

A few small changes to the way you use your smartphone can be the difference in ensuring your spine, neck, and back don’t end up suffering. Bring your phone up in front of your face, instead of leaning your head over and bending your neck to see your screen. This will keep the pressure off your neck, and minimize issues that could result.

#2: Take breaks.

Get off that phone, there’s a whole world out there! Avoid the temptation of keeping your nose stuck in your phone for an hour or more. Keep your surfing and texting to a few minutes at a time. Lay down your phone, stand up, or simply look around at your surroundings every few minutes. Frequent breaks give your spine a chance to relax, and relieve the pressure of bending your neck for a long period.

#3: Practice stretching.

Get in the habit of stretching your neck, raising your arms, rolling your shoulders, and twisting your back at the waste. These easy stretches are a quick way to loosen up body parts that can tighten up and cause injury over time.

#4: Visit a chiropractor.

If you begin noticing pain, spasms, or irritation in your neck, shoulders, or back that lingers, make an appointment with a professional chiropractor. Explain when the pain occurred, the severity, and the activity that started it. You may only require a simple adjustment to get re-aligned and gain relief from pain caused by overuse of your smartphone. A good chiropractor can also help decrease the chances of the injury worsening over time.

Nary a one of us are going to swear off our smartphones because of pain. However, by following these tips, improving our posture, and taking frequent breaks to stretch, we will be able to minimize the impact our phone obsession has on our spine. If you overdo it, make sure you get to an experienced chiropractor for an adjustment, so the issue is kept to a minimum.