Plantar fasciitis is a common and often painful foot condition that can affect anyone, but the discomfort can be even more pronounced for expectant mothers.
The weight of pregnancy, combined with the body’s natural changes, can place extra strain on the feet, leading to inflammation and sharp pain, especially in the heel.
Chiropractors help alleviate the stress on the ligaments, offering plantar fascia relief and supporting overall well-being during pregnancy. We make motherhood a little more comfortable, one step at a time.
Why Pregnant Women are More Susceptible to Foot Pain
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but let’s face it—it comes with its fair share of aches and pains. Your feet, in particular, can take quite a beating. But why exactly are pregnant women more likely to experience foot pain, especially plantar fasciitis?
- Weight Gain: As your baby grows, so does your body weight. This extra weight puts increased pressure on your feet, especially the arches. Your feet suddenly carry a much heavier load than they’re used to, which can lead to strain and pain.
- Hormonal Changes: During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin. While it’s great for preparing your body for childbirth, it also loosens ligaments, including those in your feet. This can cause your arches to flatten, leading to overpronation and potentially plantar fasciitis.
- Shift in Center of Gravity: As your belly grows, your center of gravity shifts forward. This change can alter your posture and how you walk, putting extra stress on your feet and potentially leading to pain.
- Edema (Swelling): Many pregnant women experience swelling in their feet and ankles due to increased blood volume and fluid retention. This swelling can pressure the nerves and tissues in your feet, causing discomfort.
- Increased Blood Volume: During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by about 50%. This extra fluid can cause swelling in your feet and legs, which may lead to pain and discomfort.
- Weakened Foot Muscles: The extra weight and changes in your body can lead to weakened foot muscles, which may struggle to support your feet properly.
- Changes in Foot Size: Many pregnant women experience a permanent increase in foot size during pregnancy due to the loosening of ligaments and the added weight. This can lead to ill-fitting shoes and foot pain.
- Reduced Physical Activity: As pregnancy progresses, many women reduce their physical activity, which can lead to muscle weakness and stiffness and potentially contribute to foot pain.
Remember, while foot pain during pregnancy is common, it’s not something you have to just “put up with.” Our expert team offers specific advice and treatments to help keep you comfortable throughout your pregnancy journey.
How Hormonal Changes and Weight Gain Affect the Feet
During pregnancy, your hormones are doing the cha-cha, you’re carrying some extra weight, and your gait is different—all for a good cause, of course! But these changes can put extra stress on your feet.
- Hormonal Changes: Your body releases a hormone called relaxin, which loosens your ligaments. While this is great for preparing for childbirth, it can make your feet more prone to flattening and overpronation.
- Weight Gain: As your baby grows, so does the pressure on your feet. This extra weight can strain the plantar fascia, that band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot.
- Swelling: Many pregnant women experience swelling in their feet and ankles, which can contribute to discomfort and changes in foot structure.
Chiropractic Care for Plantar Fasciitis Relief
Now, let’s talk about the good stuff—how chiropractic care can help you kick that plantar fasciitis to the curb!
Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, drug-free approach to plantar fasciitis treatment. It’s like giving your feet a superhero sidekick to fight off that pesky heel pain. Here’s how chiropractic care can come to your rescue:
- Foot and Ankle Adjustments: Chiropractors aren’t just back crackers—they can work wonders on your feet, too! By performing gentle adjustments to your foot and ankle joints, they can improve mobility and reduce stress on your plantar fascia. It’s like hitting the reset button on your foot’s alignment.
- Soft Tissue Therapy: Remember that tight band of tissue causing all the trouble? Chiropractors have special techniques to loosen it up. Methods like the Graston Technique or Active Release Technique (ART) can break down scar tissue and promote healing. Think of it as a deep tissue massage for your poor, overworked feet.
- Custom Exercise Plans: Your chiropractor is more than just there for in-office treatments. They’ll arm you with a personalized set of stretches and exercises to do at home. These moves are designed to strengthen your feet and improve flexibility, giving you the tools to fight plantar fasciitis long-term.
- Gait Analysis: Sometimes, the way you walk can contribute to plantar fasciitis. Chiropractors can analyze your gait and suggest corrections to take the pressure off your plantar fascia. It’s like fine-tuning your walking style for optimal foot health.
- Shockwave Therapy: Some chiropractic offices offer shockwave therapy, a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in the plantar fascia. It’s like giving your foot a wake-up call to kick-start the healing process.
- Lifestyle Advice: Chiropractors take a holistic approach to your health. They might suggest changes to your footwear, recommend orthotics, or provide tips on how to modify your daily activities to reduce strain on your feet.
- Addressing Related Issues: Sometimes, plantar fasciitis is just part of a bigger picture. Chiropractors can identify and treat related problems in your knees, hips, or lower back that might be contributing to your foot pain.
The best part? Many pregnant women start feeling relief after just a few sessions. But remember, healing takes time. Most people see significant improvement within 3-6 months of consistent treatment. Stick with it, and you’ll be back on your feet (pain-free!) before you know it.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Plantar Fasciitis during Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings about many changes in the body, some of which can cause discomfort, like back pain, joint aches, and foot issues, such as plantar fasciitis.
Chiropractic care offers a natural way to address these common pregnancy ailments. We focus on gentle adjustments that can ease pressure on the body, improve alignment, and support overall well-being throughout pregnancy.
Enhancing Mobility and Reducing Foot Strain
Chiropractors use gentle adjustment techniques to improve joint mobility in your feet and ankles. This can help reduce the strain on your plantar fascia, giving you some much-needed relief. These techniques are especially beneficial as your body changes during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Supporting Proper Foot Alignment to Relieve Pain
Through targeted adjustments and exercises, chiropractic care can help correct any misalignments in your feet that might contribute to your plantar fasciitis. This can lead to better weight distribution and less stress on your poor, overworked feet.
Improving Circulation and Reducing Inflammation
Chiropractic techniques can boost blood flow to your feet, which can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. This is especially important during pregnancy when you might be dealing with swelling and poor circulation.
Addressing Postpartum Back Pain
While we’re focusing on plantar fasciitis, it’s worth noting that chiropractic care can be a game-changer for postpartum back pain, too. According to Bergen Chiropractic, many pregnant and postpartum patients experience back pain due to the physical stress of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the new demands of caring for a newborn.
Chiropractic adjustments can help realign the spine and pelvis, which often shift during pregnancy and delivery and cause pelvic pain. This can provide significant pain relief from postpartum back pain and help you recover more quickly.
Holistic Approach to Postpartum Recovery
Chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to health. While treating your plantar fasciitis, your chiropractor can also address other pregnancy—and postpartum-related issues. This might include techniques to improve posture (which often suffers during pregnancy and while caring for a newborn), exercises to strengthen your core, and advice on ergonomics for activities like nursing or carrying your baby.
Safe and Non-Invasive Treatment
One of the most significant advantages of chiropractic care for both plantar fasciitis and postpartum recovery is that it’s non-invasive and doesn’t rely on medication. This makes it a safe treatment for new moms, especially breastfeeding ones.
Remember, whether you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, postpartum back pain, or both, it’s essential to work with a chiropractor with experience in prenatal and postpartum care. They can provide tailored treatment that considers the unique needs of your changing body.
Prioritize Your Comfort during Pregnancy with Bergen Chiropractic!
Pregnancy is a time of joy and anticipation, and you shouldn’t have to suffer through it with aching feet. At Bergen Chiropractic, we’re committed to helping expectant mothers find relief from plantar fasciitis and other pregnancy-related discomforts.
The chiropractic team at Bergen Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Center adheres to the highest medical standards to provide superior chiropractic care. Our mission is to provide unparalleled patient care in a comfortable, healing atmosphere.
Access our contact form or call us at (201) 357-6539 to learn more about our chiropractic care services! Our offices at 532 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010, and 62 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601, are ready to welcome you as we proudly serve the areas of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD. Also, access our blog, Facebook, and Instagram pages for more information on chiropractic care for meniscus tear rehabilitation!
