Want to add a SPRING to your step? Bowen Therapy may help persistent foot pain.
Weather is warming up, there are more hours of daylight and for some the natural urge to come out of hibernation and be more active returns. But what if your most basic function of being active (walking) causes pain, then what?
There are many issues with the feet and ankles that can impede and drastically affect one’s ability to walk effectively. Plantar Fasciitis, Morten’s Neuroma, heel spurs, bunions, and hammer toes just to name a few.
Plantar Fasciitis is the inflammation of the connective tissue(fascia) of the bottom of the foot between the heel and the toes. It presents as pain usually towards the heel but can be felt in the centre of the foot. It can be a very debilitating condition and is usually only felt in one foot but can sometimes be both. Pain is usually worst in the morning or after periods of being seated. Diagnosis is usually made by a podiatrist with corrective shoes or orthotics often prescribed.
Morten’s Neuroma is a painful condition involving compression of the nerve between the ball of the foot and the toes. Resulting in a Neuroma (benign swelling of the nerve at the site of trauma/compression.) It may feel as if you are standing on a pebble or present as pain under the ball of the foot coupled with a burning sensation, numbness or stinging in the toes. Pain often increases when walking or when the ball of the foot is squeezed together at the site of the pain. Diagnosis for this can usually be made by a GP.
Heel Spur is almost exactly as it sounds, it is a calcium deposit or bony-like growth at the base of heel bone and arch. It presents similarly to Plantar Fasciitis and often people will suffer both conditions at once.
Bunions are a lumpy growth that occurs on the side of the big toe. Experts disagree on whether you can be predisposed to developing a bunion and then ill-fitting shoes progress this or if it is simply a result of ill-fitting shoes. Arthritis and diabetes are also possible connections. Nerve damage and injury to the foot are also possible causes.
Hammer Toe symptoms may be mild or severe. It is a deformity of the toe/toes whereby the toe/toes will instead of pointing forwards curl or point downwards. Pain is usually felt when you try to stretch or move the toe.
Some people can suffer a combination of these conditions and for some people if severe enough surgical intervention may be required. Usual treatment includes reducing inflammation with anti-inflammatory medications, activity reductions, stretches, being fitted for correct shoes or orthotics for your individual foot and lifestyle modifications such as weight loss. Sometimes though even after taking the above actions pain persists and full relief cannot be achieved.
If this has occurred for you it could be good to take time to consider just what may have contributed to the poor foot bio-mechanics in the first place other than poor fitting shoes. Things such as structural/postural/muscular problems elsewhere in the body may contribute and this is where Bowen Therapy may be helpful. Bowen Therapy works on the fascia (connective tissue) of the whole body to make sure that all the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the surrounding areas as well as the issue area are all functioning correctly by bringing nutrients, hydration to these areas and releasing any fascial adhesions.
If you would like further information on how Bowen Therapy may be able to help your specific circumstance or to book in today call 0408 836 321 or 07 5494 0097.