Understanding Bursitis and How to Manage Pain
Foot bursitis often happens among athletes and runners through repetitive motion or minor impact. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion to protect surrounding bones and joints. Your foot has one bursa, but other bursae can form when the foot and ankle are inflamed.
Why Does Foot Bursitis Happen?
If you stand on your feet at work or depend on a full range of motion when you play sports, foot bursitis can feel dreadful. It happens when your feet take on a lot of stress. Possible causes of foot bursitis outside of repetitive impact include:
- Haglund’s deformity – an enlarged bone on the heel from rubbing against shoes
- Shoes that fit improperly or are unsuitable for a particular sport
- Running, jumping, and engaging in repetitive activities
- Not warming up or stretching before physical activity
- Arthritis, Thyroid, Diabetes
- Gout
If your heel is painful to touch and you cannot walk or run, the best thing to do is visit a chiropractor near LAX. A sports doctor can examine and pinpoint where the pain is before starting your treatment plan. Depending on the nature of your injury, additional tests could be required to make sure it is not a fracture or Haglund’s deformity.
People visit our chiropractic center for immediate relief of swelling and pain caused by bursitis. Instead of taking over-the-counter medications, you can entrust our elite chiropractic expertise to deliver gentle, non-invasive adjustments. When you have a full-functioning nervous system, optimal spinal health, and increased joint mobility, it can help you manage bursitis.
Below are a few of the benefits chiropractic care and adjustments can offer to patients:
- Less discomfort and pain
- Improved flexibility
- Less inflammation
- Better range of motion
Foot Bursitis Treatment
What can you do when you see warning signs of bursitis?
If you cannot visit a chiropractor as soon as you would like, you can take part in the following self-care practices.
- Take a break: rest and elevate your foot. Avoid activities that can make your heel more painful.
- Wear appropriate footwear: wearing shoes that support and cushion your heel can prevent bursitis. If you play sports, the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine recommends wearing synthetic socks.
- Stretch: your doctor can recommend a few stretches to help you through the healing process.
- Take medication as needed: Over-the-counter medications like Advil or Motrin can temporarily alleviate some of the pain.
- Ice: Only ice your heel if recommended by a doctor or chiropractor.
- Massage your foot: Massaging your foot is not recommended for severe cases of bursitis. You should avoid manipulating the site of pain and surrounding areas from the arch to the calf.
Your foot has a single bursa between the heel bone and Achilles tendon. It works to reduce friction and subsequently protects your tendon from pressure whenever you get on your feet. That is a common medical concern for many patients, but you will get better over time when you visit our LAX chiropractic center.