plantar fasciitis treatment Archives - Physio Room

145. Understanding Foot Type and Its Effect on Running Injuries | Dr. Emily Schilling

Andrew Fix — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:12:04 +0000

“The two different foot types that can both have plantar fasciitis are the low arch, or flatter foot, and the high arch, or more rounded foot. Both can present with plantar fasciitis, but each will require a very different treatment plan,” explains Dr. Emily Schilling, a chiropractor specializing in foot and lower leg health for runners.

Dr. Schilling joins Dr. Andrew Fix to talk about the link between foot mechanics, gait, and the unique demands of running. Dr. Schilling points out that understanding whether you have a low or high arch can be essential to keeping injuries like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures at bay. For example, she shares that low-arched runners often benefit from specific muscle strengthening to support the plantar fascia, while high-arched runners may need a focus on shock absorption to prevent stress injuries.

They also discuss in this episode how choosing the right footwear makes a difference—stack height, heel-to-toe drop, and shoe shape all influence gait mechanics and injury risk. Whether you’re a runner looking to prevent injury or a health professional aiming to help others do the same, this episode offers practical, research-backed insights to keep your feet healthy and your running performance strong.

Quotes

“In our office, all of our appointments for new patients are an hour and a half. And so that’s where we want to know everything from biomechanics to how you’re running, how you’re loading, what range of motion looks like, history, all of that good stuff to form the background from that whole picture of what in fact we are dealing with… A huge part of it is education and not only what plantar fasciitis is, but how to go about rehabbing that so that then they have those tools.” (08:07 | Dr. Emily Schilling)
“The two different foot types that can both have plantar fasciitis are the low arch, or flatter foot, and the high arch, or more rounded foot. Both can present with plantar fasciitis, but each will require a very different treatment plan.” (10:12 | Dr. Emily Schilling)
“If we have a lower arch or flatter foot, I like to think of it as if we have a bed frame with a mattress on top. Our bed frame represents the plantar fascia, and the mattress is the flexor digitorum brevis muscle. If this muscle—the ‘mattress’—isn’t strong enough, and there’s extra load, like kids jumping on the bed, that bed frame is going to wear out. The plantar fascia, if that muscle isn’t doing its job, will take on a lot more stress and load.” (10:34 | Dr. Emily Schilling)
“If we’re landing really heavily on our foot, the brain will respond with, ‘No, I don’t like that. That’s uncomfortable, not good.’ It will then adjust, figuring out how to land more lightly. This adjustment happens because the brain can actually feel what’s going on. Typically, we don’t use low-cushion shoes for long distances or everyday runs. However, using them for shorter runs, maybe a mile or two each week, provides valuable feedback and encourages subtle improvements, making running more injury-free.” (21:30 | Dr. Emily Schilling)

Connect with Dr. Emily Schilling:

https://www.thsclinic.com/

https://gaithappens.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dremilyschilling/

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133. Managing Lower Leg and Foot Pain | Dr. Emily Splichal

Andrew Fix — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:18:03 +0000

“The way that I look at the foot and the ankle is from a very integrated perspective,” shares Dr. Emily Splichal, a functional podiatrist and expert in human movement. In this episode, she joins Dr. Andrew Fix to discuss her holistic approach to podiatry, which considers how stress, diet, and sleep affect foot health—moving beyond the traditional focus on shoes and orthotics.

They explore how foot stability, rather than overpronation, is often the root cause of issues like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy. Dr. Splichal introduces her strategy of “putting out the fire” to manage inflammation and support healing. They also delve into the unique structure of the Achilles tendon and the potential of red light therapy for improving foot health.

For practical advice, Dr. Splichal advocates for functional exercises that combine foot positioning with core stability, offering a fresh perspective on achieving optimal foot performance. This episode of The Code challenges conventional podiatric practices, emphasizing a comprehensive, movement-based approach to foot care.

Quotes

“I am a functional podiatrist… The way I look at the foot and ankle is from a very integrated perspective. In fact, I actually get most of my patients out of their orthotics and supportive shoes. I’m trying to help them find the natural strength of their feet. Part of my role as a functional podiatrist is to factor in stress levels, diet, and sleep, systemically considering what could be influencing the patient’s presentation.” (02:29 | Dr. Emily Splichal)
“We all need to pronate. That’s how you unlock and load energy when you move dynamically. But what is the timing of that? What is the deceleration of that unlocking? And that’s really, really important. And that’s oftentimes the overlooked piece.” (15:57 | Dr. Emily Splichal)
“Proper foot function is based on long, straight, flat digits. It’s important to understand and feel how your rear foot rotates. If you’re everted and unlocked, you should externally rotate your hips slightly to lift the arch. You can consciously do this by rotating your hips to lift the arch. From there, you’ll have a nice stable base to move into your foot exercises.” (34:50 | Dr. Emily Splichal)
“The Achilles tendon is the largest, strongest tendon in the human body. This is when we walk and run and do dynamic movement. This is where we get the greatest amount of our elastic recoil. So, just a lot of the dynamics of movement is based on the Achilles tendon, which is important.” (43:37 | Dr. Emily Splichal)
“Vibration is good for bone, but it needs to be controlled. Excess vibration due to a slow foot or a disconnect from the ground can cause problems. For example, some people get shin splints because they have no perception of the ground and their foot strike pattern. So that’s one thing I consider and say, ‘Okay, we need to tune you into your feet and your movement. I need you to feel the vibration and understand how to contract your muscles around it.’ Sometimes the issue is foot strength, foot type, or the loading response being overloaded, possibly from running on concrete.” (01:01:54 | Dr. Emily Splichal)

Links

Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:

https://bit.ly/44pgszD

https://www.instagram.com/naboso_technology/