Summer Time and Sore Feet

Finally, the warmer weather has come and we’re all anxious to get out and play! Whether it’s a casual stroll around the block or a more rigorous multi-mile run, being outside seems to be the perfect remedy to all the cold and wet weather we’ve been having. Chances are you’re like most of us who haven’t ever really thought about their feet much except how they looked in a pair of shoes we were buying. But lately for some of us, we’ve started to notice our feet just a little more than what we use to Ð and it isn’t because of the new shoes we’re sporting but rather the discomfort we’re feeling. Initially, we might have been curious about the sharp pain on the bottom of our foot when we got out of bed in the morning, or maybe the burning discomfort along the balls of our feet we experience as we walk the giant mega store warehouse. In any case, it doesn’t feel good, nor is it helping us to enjoy our outdoor experiences. Actually, it might even be keeping us from even contemplating doing them if our feet are hurting enough, and in some cases keeping us from even doing our regular daily activities!

So, what can you do about it? There are many reasons for foot pain. Some are obvious, for example, poorly fitting shoes, over-use, or an actual injury. Some are pathologic such as arthritic joint changes or diabetic degenerative changes. But more commonly, sources of foot pain result from the improper joint alignment and associated dysfunction of the foot bones. There are 26 bones in the foot with each having at least one joint articulation. The simple act of walking and running causes us to impact the ground at forces 2-4 times our body weight. So, if you were to happen to weigh 100 pounds, your foot could be hitting the ground with a force of 200-400lbs per heel strike. When you think about the number of times your foot hits the ground while walking around the block and the amount of force and impact that the foot deals with on a regular basis, then it becomes obvious that joints can become misaligned and dysfunctions can become a source of discomfort Ð even sharp debilitating pain.

Luckily there are some home remedies that can help. For example, try not to go from sitting most of the day to walking a couple of miles over night. Take time to let the body build strength into the connective structures of the foot by allowing 2-4 weeks of gradually increasing period of exercise. This way the foot builds strength. Another example includes massaging your feet in the evenings before bed. Increased muscle tightness of the feet can decrease your foots ability to bend and flex causing increased resistance to movement. This can cause the muscles of the foot to become overworked, achy, and easily fatigued. The nightly massage helps to increase the foot’s natural flexibility, decrease muscle tightness, and wellÉ it feels great!

For those of us who continue to struggle with foot pain that just won’t go away, it can be a very frustrating and even a mood altering experience. If you’ve tried the home remedies and you’re still having troubles with your feet you might need some professional help. Many choose a more invasive approach such as surgery as their initial response, but has such a high failure rate and doesn’t always actually fix the under lying problems. Dr. Ramzi Dalloul, DC has been helping folks in the North Denver Metro area who suffer from foot pain for over 10 years. He’s helped hundreds of people, from walkers to long distance runners, who have been forced to limit their activities because of foot pain, get back into their game! His philosophy is to work with the foot to help it return to normal functioning by addressing improper joint alignments, poor foot function, and orthotic therapy. If you’re interested in moving into a more effective and less invasive solution consider coming to his next workshop at the ConfluenceSBC Conference Center in Lafayette, CO at 6:30pm on July 16th, 2015 where he’ll talk more about other home care remedies and treatment options. Call his office to find more information at 303-818-0595 to reserve your seat since space is limited, so call now.