You probably take your feet for granted…until something goes wrong with them, especially pain or trouble walking. Then you realize just how important they are.
There are a number of problems that can affect the feet. In many if not most cases, these problems aren’t confined to the feet, but are instead an indicator of what is going on elsewhere in the body. So let’s take a look at some of these foot problems, what they might mean, and what can be done about them.
Athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that causes redness, itching, and flaking of the skin between the toes. Thickened, peeling, cracking skin on heels can be a form of athlete’s foot as well. There are creams that can be used, but what’s important to realize is that any fungal infection on any part of the body usually means that there is a yeast problem – yeast is a kind of fungus – throughout the body. If you also have sugar cravings, brain fog, and female yeast infections, an overall yeast infection is likely.
Sugar is yeast’s favorite food, and eating sugar and some other foods causes yeast and fungus to multiply. The key to getting rid of athlete’s foot for good is to follow a yeast-free and sugar-free diet. Such a diet is described in detail in the book Detox or Disease, written by Dr. Bill Kellas and Dr. Andrea S. Dworkin, which is for sale on this website.
What appears to be athlete’s foot may instead be an allergy to materials or detergent in socks, slippers or shoes, or to carpet if regularly walked on barefoot.
Toenail fungus
Toenail fungus is related to athlete’s foot, and you might have both. With toenail fungus, the toenail becomes thicker and darker and downright unattractive. Eventually the fungus can spread to other toenails and even to fingernails. As with athlete’s foot, it’s important to treat the whole body with a yeast-free diet as well as using some sort of medication for the toenail fungus itself.
Bunions
A bunion is an inflammation and enlargement of the bone between the foot and the big toe, which can cause the big toe to move towards the second toe. Although usually painless at first, eventually it can start to hurt.
One of the main causes of bunions is tight shoes. Shoes with pointy toes force the front big toes towards the others; the joint at the base of the big toe is forced outward, and a bunion can result. High heels combined with gravity increases the force on the toes. Roomy, flat shoes can help ease the pain of bunions or keep them from forming in the first place. Be sure shoes fit properly; feet tend to enlarge with age, so don’t assume you still take the same shoe size. Other causes of bunions are repetitive trauma such as ballet toe dancing or ball kicking, or arthritis.
The body’s overall structure is also involved, such as the position and alignment of hip and knee joints, in which case chiropractic adjustment can help.
Hammertoes
With hammertoes, the upper parts of the toes are pulled back towards the foot and the toes are bent downwards. Hammertoes crimp downward as if to grip the earth and provide balance. They are trying to do work that should be performed by the arches, ankles, legs, knees and hips. There are exercises that can strengthen these muscles.
Some causes are shoes that are too short or tight, high heels, arthritis, or diabetes. For mild cases, physical therapy is often sufficient. An at-home exercise is to curl your toes frequently, as if you were trying to pick up a cloth off the floor.
Corns and calluses
Corns (small, round) and calluses (larger and less defined) are both thickening of the skin of the foot. The main cause is pressure from shoes or abnormality in walking gait. Bunions and hammertoes, by causing pressure on other toes, can lead to corns. They can cause pain if walking or shoes put pressure on them.
The usual treatment is chemically dissolving the corn or callus, but it’s important to figure out what caused them in the first place. Try looser shoes to start. Walking patterns can be analyzed to see whether these contribute; if so, chiropractic treatment, orthotics, or walking retraining can help.
Flat feet
The arches of the feet support the body’s weight, and they help with walking and reacting properly to the terrain being walked upon. When the arch flattens out, other muscles, such as calf, knee, hip, and low back, must take over these functions, a job for which they’re not ideally suited; injury can result.
The main cause of flat feet is hip dysfunction, which can be worked on by a chiropractor. Another major cause of flat feet is rigid shoes, especially for a baby. After a while, the foot muscles, which normally adjust to the terrain, atrophy and can no longer maintain an arch.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the ligament that supports the arch. It causes pain, sometimes sharp, along the arch when standing or walking. It can be caused by standing on hard surfaces for long periods, or by foot pronation in which the feet roll inwards when walking. Overweight can worsen the problem by increasing pressure on the ligament. As with many of the problems listed here, a visit with a chiropractor can help, as can analysis of your gait (walking pattern).
Gait analysis
There are some specialists who look at how you walk and suggest corrections in the form of orthotics (shoe inserts), chiropractic adjustments, or exercises. Such a specialist will look for evenness of gait (both legs move and both feet land in the same way), and that the parts of the foot land in the correct order. She or he will often examine your well-worn shoes to note which parts are wearing down too quickly or not at all, and will ask about any pain or other foot symptoms. A more thorough workup will also examine how the hips and knees move while walking, since the feet aren’t the only parts of the body involved in walking.
Orthotics and shoes
Orthotics are shoe inserts that compensate for abnormalities in your feet and how you stand and walk. They can be off-the-shelf arch supports and heel inserts or custom-made appliances prescribed after a thorough gait analysis. Although orthotics can help alleviate symptoms, they are best used, if at all, along with adjustments and exercises. It’s always better to fix the problem than to try to compensate for it.
When it comes to shoes, less is more; barefoot is ideal in many circumstances. Those very supportive athletic shoes usually only accommodate and disguise dysfunction. Ankle support is good as long as you’re wearing the shoe, but your ankle starts to depend on the shoe rather than its muscles, and this actually increases chances of injury when the supportive shoes aren’t being worn.
After wearing super-supportive athletic shoes or orthotics, take them off and walk around, paying attention to how you feel – if you feel off-balance or less stable, this indicates dependence on the shoes to do the work your body was meant to do.
If you’re having foot problems…
Come in to CAM for an evaluation by our practitioners, who will set you on a course to heal what’s going on with your feet.
