What is plantar fascitis? Plantar fasciitis (pronounced PLAN-tar fas-e-I-tis) can be one of the most common foot related pains people experience. Basically it is pain and inflammation along the thick band of connective tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects the heel to the toes. This is the Plantar Fascia.
Symptoms of Plantar fasciitis commonly include burning, stabbing, aching, and pinching pain in the foot. It can affect the heel, mid, or entire foot. Many people notice it first thing in the morning when getting out of bed, or out of a chair if sitting for a long time. After limbering it up with some steps, it can decrease, only to return later or the next day.
Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone, but is particularly common in athletes and runners. It can affect people who are overweight, have poor foot biomechanics, wear unsupportive shoes or flip flops, walk barefoot, or have worn out shoes / sneakers.
Chiropractic adjustments of the foot, ankle, knees, and pelvis, and orthotics as needed, can help correct biomechanical instability, but sometimes there is an inflammatory cycle and injured tissue that needs additional help.
That’s where a Class IV laser can help tremendously.
Here are the 4 main attributes of a Class IV laser
1. Stimulates cellular energy
2. Decreases pain – analgesia
3. Anti-Inflammatory cascade
4. Acceleration of natural healing processes
Here is the basics of how it works. Laser is energy in the near infared range, so it is virtually invisible to the naked eye, but has the ability to penetrate several inches into living tissue of both humans and animals. It stimulates healing by a process known as PhotoBioStimulation. This is best compared to photosynthesis in a plant. Photons are directed into the tissue via the laser and stimulate unhealthy / damaged cells only. The laser has virtually no effect on normal healthy cells. Pain relief is one of the first things people notice, but what happens to the tissue most important.
Photons stimulate the cells, especially the Mitochondria of cells, which is the energy powerhouse of a cell. This increases cellular metabolism, thus stimulating faster cellular repair and healing. The photons help to reduce inflammation and the process caused by damaged tissue, yet it stimulates vasodilation, and nitric oxide. This means circulation increases (angiogenisis), allowing waste products and damaged cellular components to be removed, and new rebuilding material can be brought in. This accelerates the healing of tissue.
Nerve function is also improved with laser therapy, as it destimulates pain receptors and nerves, but also helps regenerate nerves to heal and re myelinate. After an injury, there is also a process of immune stimulation (usually to prevent a possible infection, but it can cause additional inflammation), and lasers can help with immunoregulation which helps speed up the healing process with less inflammation and pain.
Class IV Lasers can also be used to stimulate acupuncture points which helps the healing process.
In addition to plantar fascitis, our laser can help with complaints range from tendinitis in virtually any area, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, ligament injuries, meniscus injuries of the knees, foot neuromas, frozen shoulder by reducing fibrous adhesions, bursitis of the hip and shoulders, disc injuries, nerve entrapments, and the list goes on to encompass most soft tissue injuries. Class IV lasers also have the ability to speed up would healing, as well as toenail fungus.
We recognize there are other treatments out there including cortisone shots or even surgery, but they often have a list of unwanted side effects. Our methods are natural and safe for people of all ages.
Rather than bore you with medical processes, and terminology, we will sum it up by saying… There are natural alternatives to cortisone, rest, and possible surgery for some soft tissue injuries that many people suffer with.