Back Pain

By Kaushal Bhuta (Chiropractor) & James Teo (Podiatrist)

What is it?

Heel Pain is one of the most common conditions treated by Podiatrists. There are many causes of heel pain, however, it is usually the result of faulty mechanics in the way we walk. This can place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissue attached to it. At times, heel pain can also be the result of an injury, or systemic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes.

By far, the most common cause of heel pain is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This is caused by inflammation of the long band of tissue that connects the heel and the ball of the foot. Excessive rolling of the foot has been long been established as the major cause of this inflammation, as this is the primary cause of excessive strain on the arch ligament. Symptoms usually include sharp pain in the heel first thing in the morning and following periods of rest, and aching pain in the heel on increased activity.

How Can it Be Fixed?

As there are many causes of heel pain, it is important to have the condition correctly diagnosed so that appropriate treatment can be implemented. Your healthcare professional such as your chiropractor or your podiatrist are trained do diagnose these conditions.

The Pain Spasm Cycle applies as much for this part of the body as for the neck, so for a diagram I would refer you to the picture on page 1.

At Necks Backs Sports we pride ourselves on trying to address each phase of the pain spasm cycle. Treatment for plantar fasciitis usually involves massage and stretching & strengthening exercises for the heel and calf muscles, icing of the heel to reduce inflammation, and strapping of the foot with shoe inserts (orthotics). The result is a strengthening of postural muscles and improved control of the ankle and foot.

Orthotics fitted by a properly trained podiatrist correct poor foot posture such as collapsed arches or poor foot movement patterns. Therefore the source of the problem is treated; without them the above treatment is rendered ineffective. They can also be made to fit most shoes (including dress shoes and high heels!). The result is a strengthening of postural muscles and improved control of the ankle and foot. Pain is also reduced and can vanish all together.

By James Teo & Kaushal Bhuta

Heel Pain is one of the most common conditions treated by Podiatrists. There are many causes of heel pain, however, it is usually the result of faulty mechanics in the way we walk. This can place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissue attached to it. At times, heel pain can also be the result of an injury, or systemic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes.

By far, the most common cause of heel pain is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This is caused by inflammation of the long band of tissue that connects the heel and the ball of the foot. Excessive rolling of the foot has been long been established as the major cause of this inflammation, as this is the primary cause of excessive strain on the arch ligament. Symptoms usually include sharp pain in the heel first thing in the morning and following periods of rest, and aching pain in the heel on increased activity.

As there are many causes of heel pain, it is important to have the condition correctly diagnosed so that appropriate treatment can be implemented. Treatment for plantar fasciitis however usually involves massage and stretching exercises for the heel and calf muscles, icing of the heel to reduce inflammation, and strapping of the foot with shoe inserts (orthotics). Orthotics work to correct any inherent mechanical abnormalities in the feet, therefore treating the source of the problem and not just a “band aid” solution. They can also be made to fit most shoes (including court/dress shoes!).

Your Chiropractor, with the help of a Podiatrist should be able to successfully treat most causes of heel pain.

It seems to be a little-known fact that computers have ushered in a marvelous age of efficiency and speed. Prolonged sitting at a computer screen was not the position that human beings were designed for.

There are many studies that show prolonged sitting and by prolonged we mean that greater than 20 to 30 minutes squeezes water out of the disc (dehydrates) and as such makes the disc very venerable to strain. Again little known fact is that pressure on your spine is the highest in the sitting position in which the spine is under the greatest pressure due to the effect of gravity. The force on your back is approximately 100 when you are lying down, 200 standing and 400 sitting. As such, prolonged sitting tends to cause cracking of the discs and swelling in the joints. Both of these are extremely painful.

Interesting, I make note of the fact that these days I tend to see more people who do office work than ever before. I think that this is because the computer revolution has meant that every single office job involves some use of a computer. Very often it is improper use.

Here at Necks Backs Sports we are committed to a holistic solution to the problem. If you are suffering one of the symptoms illustrated in the box beside this text, then it might be a good idea for you to drop us an Email or give us a call or better still come in and see us, so that we can examine the tissues that may be put under strain because of seated posture.

Another service that we offer here at Necks Backs Sports is the ability to look at either your workstation and make basic changes or consult with our collogues who are Occupational Therapists. The interesting thing is that there is so much that can be done to easily prevent the damage that can arise from sitting at the computer.

Available are software programs that have been written such as Stretch break and there are countless exercises and routines that can be adopted in addition to changing your workstation. Ergonomic workstations and simple solutions have become readily available and cost-effective.

If you are suffering from headaches, migraines, back pain, wrist pain, arm pain, and sciatic pain all of these may be related to your sitting posture.

Please do call or drop me an Email if you are concerned about your symptoms. We do know professionals such as Holistic Health Services or Occupational Therapies such as Pro Work who could help with your ergonomic assessments and in-office procedures.

The core stabilising muscles have been the topic of much research and debate over the last decade. In short, there are two muscular systems at work to support your back. The first of these is “phasic”, and these muscle turn on and off.  Muscles such as your biceps or the general muscles we use for movement are examples of the use of phasic muscles.

The second system is the core stabilising system. These are also known as postural muscles. Instead of turning on and off, they should be constantly turned “on”, supporting the joints and stopping them from moving to far and becoming injured. These muscles get turned off with injury to disks and joints. As a result joints can move to far and continuously be reinjured and this is often the case in chronic or long standing back pain.

Even in shorter cases, the core stabilisers need to be retrained so that they are functioning to support your spine. Kaushal Bhuta at Necks Backs Sports spent many years researching the blood supply to these important core muscles as part of his masters thesis. Hence in addition to the treatment listed above, exercises and your adherence to both the treatment and exercise program is an essential part of therapy here at Necks Backs Sports.