Category: News

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis

Our feet undergo a lot of stress, which can lead to significant foot and heel pain. As a board-certified chiropractor specializing in sports medicine, I see many patients with foot and heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. The condition involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the long, thick band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot, connecting the heel to the front of the foot.

Below, I discuss several causes, symptoms and treatment options, including chiropractic care, to help you better understand the condition and how to relieve the pain associated with it.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia tissue supports the arch of the foot and acts as a shock absorber when we move our feet. With every step, that tissue is subjected to significant tension as the heel hits the ground, and tiny tears can occur. This can cause inflammation and irritation in the plantar fascia, accompanied by stabbing pain and stiffness on the bottom of the heel.

It’s often unclear exactly how plantar fasciitis occured, but it can be caused by a number of factors, including inadequate footwear or an overuse injury. Other factors that can increase the risk for plantar fasciitis are:

  • Age – As we get older, our risk of experiencing plantar fasciitis increases. It most commonly affects people over age 40.
  • Foot structure – Flat feet or high arches can mean a higher risk for plantar fasciitis. An unusual gait or walking pattern can cause an uneven weight distribution that is harder on the feet. Tight Achilles tendons, which attach your calf muscles to your heels, also may cause foot pain and stress for your plantar fascia.
  • Weight – Excess body weight makes it harder for your feet to support you. Pregnant women or people who experience sudden weight gain may develop plantar fasciitis.
  • High-impact activities – Activities that involve your heels can add a lot of strain to the area. Sports-related activities that involve repetitive impact are common contributors to heel and foot pain. Likewise, a sudden increase in activity, such as starting a new walking or running program, can increase your risk of plantar fasciitis.
  • Time on your feet – Jobs that require several hours of walking or standing on hard surfaces can damage the plantar fascia.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

The primary symptom is pain on the bottom of the heel that develops over time. Some people experience pain on the bottom and at the middle of the foot. It’s usually most noticeable with the first steps of the day and may return after extended periods of standing, or when standing up after sitting or lying down.

Plantar fasciitis usually affects just one foot, but it can occur in both feet. The pain can be alternately sharp or a dull ache extending outward from the heel. You may also feel a higher level of discomfort when walking barefoot or in shoes with minimal support, like flip-flops.

Plantar fasciitis can often be confused with a heel spur. A heel spur is a calcium deposit that builds up and protrudes from the underside of the heel bone. Although the risk factors for a heel spur are similar to those of plantar fasciitis, heel spurs often do not cause pain or present symptoms unless they cause an injury to the soft tissue.

Tips for Relieving Pain

The following tips may help you relieve heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis:

  • Rest – It’s important to keep weight off your affected foot as much as possible when you’re experiencing plantar fasciitis. This means you may need to decrease athletic activities that involve jumping or pounding on hard surfaces.
  • Proper footwear – Supportive shoes with thick soles or cushioning can help relieve pain and reduce the stress on your plantar fascia. Silicone heel pads also provide cushioning. You should also consider replacing your athletic shoes often, and avoid high-heels or non-supportive footwear.
  • Avoid going barefoot – Without any support, especially on hard surfaces, this can be a serious stressor to the tissue in the bottom of the foot.
  • Stretching – Tight muscles in your feet and calves can aggravate the pain of plantar fasciitis. We can provide several stretching and at-home exercises that you can do to help loosen the muscles in your achilles tendon and plantar fascia, as well as to help strengthen your lower leg muscles and stabilize your ankles.
  • Ice or cold therapy – Pain and inflammation often respond well to cold therapy. Consider applying an ice pack or rolling your foot over a cold water bottle for 15-20 minutes several times a day. You can also fill a plastic water bottle about three-quarters full, freeze it for several hours, and then roll your foot over the bottle for relief.

Chiropractic Care for Plantar Fasciitis

We offer several treatment options for plantar fasciitis, including:

  • Chiropractic adjustments – As a board-certified chiropractor, I can perform adjustments to your feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine to alleviate pressure, allowing you to relax and heal. Realigning the body in this way also helps reduce the risk of further injury and discomfort.
  • Corrective exercise – Rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process following any injury, and it’s a key part of my treatment. When necessary, I can provide specific recommendations to help you regain strength and improve flexibility in the foot, heel and ankle.
  • Laser therapy – I’m proud to offer the industry’s leading and most effective Class IV Laser for patients who need it. During treatment, I gently guide the laser over the affected area. The red and near infrared light from the laser helps alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and speed up recovery.
  • Soft tissue therapy – Graston Technique® is a type of soft tissue mobilization used at our clinic. During the treatment, I use a stainless steel instrument called a Graston tool to break up scar tissue and fascial restrictions in the foot, heel and ankle. This helps alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
  • Trigger point dry needling – Dry needling is a great treatment option for muscular pain, tension and myofascial dysfunction. The treatment involves gently inserting a thin, dry needle (one without medication) into the trigger point and gently manipulating it until we get a “twitch” response, indicating that the muscle has released.

If you’re suffering from heel or foot pain, don’t ignore it. Use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment, or contact us for more information and an expert recommendation.

PCSF Chiropractic Hosts Ribbon Cutting at New Clinic

Please join Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic for a ribbon cutting and open house at our new Council Bluffs location at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29. Come tour the clinic, check out our new hyperbaric oxygen chamber, enter to win door prizes, and enjoy refreshments from our friends and neighbors at Nutrition 712 and Mad Ox Bakery.

We recently moved our clinic from the Valley View Villages to 15 State Street in order to have more space for new services as well as provide a more centralized location for patients. The new clinic, which is located just off the 100 Block next to InMotion Gymnastics and Entertainment, offers a more centralized location for patients as well as extra space for functional movement and sports medicine services. In addition to our new hyperbaric oxygen chamber, we recently added a squat rack to assist power lifters and other athletes with functional movement and injury prevention. The additional square footage provided by the new space makes it possible for us to continue adding these types of services.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Weightlifters and Crossfitters

Chiropractic care offers several benefits for people of all ages and walks of life, but athletes and weightlifters are among the groups that can benefit the most. If you’re a weightlifter or Crossfitter, read on to learn how it can help you.

Improves posture and performance

Weightlifting puts a lot of stress on the joints as well as the upper and lower back. This stress can increase the risk of misalignment and impact your performance. If your spine or other joints are misaligned, your body will distribute weight unevenly. When you’re lifting, this can cause one side of the body to bear more of the weight than the other side, which can lead to uneven gains.

Chiropractic adjustments help restore natural balance by ensuring the body is properly aligned. Adjustments also help restore proper function to the nervous system, which in turn helps regulate muscle function and promote recovery.

Prevents injuries

Weightlifters and Crossfitters expose themselves to a variety of injuries, including sprains, strains and pinched nerves that can affect the upper and lower back as well as the shoulders, hips and knees. With regular chiropractic adjustments, you can ensure your body has the proper mechanical balance, which in turn helps increase range of motion and optimize performance.

As a board-certified chiropractor and former personal trainer and collegiate athlete, Nate Wiechmann, D.C., understands the physical demands that are required to live an active lifestyle. He can recommend specific exercises that you can use to increase range of motion, build strength and prevent future injuries. (We also have a squat rack in our clinic to assist power lifters and athletes with proper form for injury prevention.)

Treats injuries

When injuries do occur, chiropractic care can help speed up the recovery process. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, some of the other treatment options we provide for weightlifters and Crossfitters include:

  • Cupping therapy – Cupping involves applying glass or silicone cups to the skin to create pressure. (We use silicone cups at our clinics.) The suction promotes blood flow to the affected areas, which in turn helps stimulate the natural healing process to relieve tension and inflammation in the muscles.
  • Graston Technique® – This type of soft tissue mobilization utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments/tools to break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions in the body. As the instruments are moved over the affected area and come in contact with the adhesions, they break up scar tissue and fascial restrictions, which in turn helps relieve pain and restore movement.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – Our newest treatment option, hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT, involves lying inside a pressurized chamber that releases 95-100% pure oxygen that’s increased two to three times the normal levels provided in our everyday environment. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, it helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing. (Typically a session goes for $80-100, but we’re offering 50% off your first session through the rest of the summer.)
  • Taping – Functional Movement Taping (FMT) helps provide support and stability for weak or injured muscles. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other treatments. It’s important to have a certified practitioner, like a chiropractor, apply the tape to ensure it’s properly placed for optimal benefit.
  • TheraGun – TheraGun provides deep muscle massage that helps break up tension and increase range of motion. Oftentimes, this can be added on to other services for a minimal or complimentary fee.
  • Trigger point dry needling – This type of treatment involves inserting a dry needle (one without medicine) into a “knot” or trigger point in order to relieve pain and tension in the muscles.

In addition, we provide functional movement screens and sports physicals to help athletes address faulty movement patterns and reduce the risk of injury.

Of course, athletes aren’t the only ones who can benefit from regular chiropractic care. As a board-certified chiropractor, Dr. Wiechmann treats people of all ages and fitness levels, including elite athletes, weekend warriors, pregnant mothers and children. Call 712-249-8231 for more information, or use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

FAQs About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re now offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy at our Council Bluffs clinic. Read on to learn how it works and what you can expect during and after treatment.

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves lying inside a pressurized chamber that releases 95-100% pure oxygen. Often, pressure in the chamber is between 1.5 and 3 times greater than normal air pressure. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, it helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of growth factors and stem cells, which promotes healing. With repeated treatments, the extra oxygen can help increase your normal oxygen levels, even after the session ends. This means you can continue reaping benefits of the treatment long after you leave.

What are the benefits of hyperbaric medicine?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (or hyperbaric medicine) has become a popular recovery tool for athletes and non-athletes alike. The non-invasive treatment option can be beneficial for anyone looking to obtain better overall health and wellness. In particular, it can help provide relief for the following conditions:

  • Anemia
  • Brain abscesses
  • Bubbles of air in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
  • Burns
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Crushing injuries
  • Deafness
  • Decompression sickness
  • Gangrene
  • Infections
  • Nonhealing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
  • Radiation injuries and skin grafts
  • Sports injuries, including medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
  • Vision loss

Other benefits include:

  • Increasing collagen production
  • Reducing pain and inflammation
  • Speeding up recovery time after an infection, sprain, strain, concussion or head injury
  • Decreasing the risk of re-injury

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment option. A typical session at our clinic lasts about an hour, and the pressure is constantly monitored to ensure your safety and comfort. However, hyperbaric medicine is not right for everyone. You shouldn’t receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy if you:

  • Have certain types of lung diseases or a collapsed lung
  • Are experiencing a cold or a fever, or have tested positive for COVID-19 within 24 hours
  • Recently had ear surgery or have a history of ear problems
  • Do not like small enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

In some cases, patients may experience the following side effects, which resolve within a few hours:

  • Fatigue or lightheadedness
  • Sinus pressure
  • Fluid buildup or ear discomfort

Can hyperbaric medicine be used in conjunction with other treatments?

Yes. Like many of the services provided at our clinics, hyperbaric medicine works well in conjunction with other treatments, including chiropractic adjustments, trigger point dry needling, soft tissue therapy and laser therapy.

Is hyperbaric medicine covered by insurance?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an out-of-pocket expense. For your convenience, we offer competitive cash pricing options (see below).

How much does hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost?

We offer competitive pricing for hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

  • $75 for a one-hour session / $50 for your first session
  • $350 for five one-hour sessions ($25 savings)
  • $700 for 10 one-hour sessions ($50 savings)
  • $1,025 for 15 one-hour sessions ($100 savings)
  • $1,300 for 20 one-hour sessions ($150 savings)

To book an appointment, use our online scheduling tool, or contact us for details.

The Importance of Sports Physicals for Athletes

Every August, an influx of parents call our clinic to schedule sports physicals that allow their children to participate in school-sponsored activities. With the beginning of the school year right around the corner, scheduling a physical becomes just one more thing to check off the list, but it shouldn’t be. 

These pre-participation exams are important for several reasons. First and most obviously, student athletes need to be medically cleared to play sports. Without a thorough physical assessment by a qualified medical professional, teens and other school-age children could be at-risk for severe health complications, including muscle imbalances and reflex conditions. Additionally, adolescents are among the highest risk-takers of any age group. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, athletic injuries account for about 20% of all injury-related emergency room visits for kids ages six to 19. Sports physicals help uncover hidden dangers that can keep your child safe on and off the field.

As a board-certified chiropractor and former collegiate athlete and personal trainer, Nate Wiechmann, D.C., specializes in treating and assessing student athletes. During each sports physical, he checks for the following:

  • Muscle imbalances
  • Joint pain or tenderness
  • Curvature of the spine
  • Problems with reflexes

Each sports physical includes a health history check to identify any previous injuries or conditions that may need to be addressed prior to the start of the season. In most cases, the athlete will be cleared to participate in his or her desired program. If something needs to be addressed, we may be able to treat the condition onsite, or we may refer your child to another specialist for further evaluation and treatment.

To schedule a sports physical, please use our online scheduling tool, or contact us for more information.

To accommodate patients in the Riverside Community School District, we’re once again offering discounted sports physicals for student athletes during back-to-school orientation on Aug. 9. For details, check out our blog post or contact Riverside High School.

PCSF Chiropractic Offers Sports Physicals at Riverside High School

Each year, Pott County Sports & Family Chiropractic provides discounted sports physicals to students in the Riverside Community School District. We’re proud of this longstanding tradition, which allows us to give back to the Oakland community. To make things even easier on parents and their families this year, we’re providing the sports physicals during back-to-school registration at Riverside High School on Monday, August 8.

Any student participating in a school-sponsored activity during the 2021-2022 season must complete a physical prior to the start of the season, and this is a great way to check it off the to-do list. The cost is $25 (payable via cash, check or credit card), and $10 of each physical will be donated back to the school activities program. Physicals will take place in the nurses office, and all paperwork will be provided by the school.

As a board-certified chiropractor specializing in sports medicine, Dr. Nate Wiechmann understands the physical demands that are required to live a healthy and active lifestyle. During each physical, he carefully assesses for the following risks:

  • Muscle imbalances
  • Joint pain or tenderness
  • Curvature of the spine
  • Reflex issues

If your child is not part of the Riverside community or he or she is unable to attend the orientation night, you can schedule a sports physical at one of our clinics using our online scheduling tool. For more information, please contact Riverside High School at 712-484-2291.

Want to bring this service to your child’s school? Contact us to learn how.

Pinpointing Pain with Trigger Point Dry Needling

Have you ever experienced hard “knots” in your muscle? Those knots are known as “trigger points,” and they can cause significant pain over large areas, making it difficult to perform daily tasks. A common treatment option for relieving myofascial trigger point pain is dry needling.

What is the difference between trigger point dry needling and acupuncture?

Both trigger point dry needling and acupuncture use dry needles (ones that don’t involve medication) to gently prick specific spots in the body, but the treatments vary greatly. Acupuncture is primarily used to treat internal issues, such as digestive problems, stress and allergies, by removing blocked or interrupted “chi.” Dry needling is used to treat muscular pain, tension and myofascial dysfunction. Research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy shows this helps release tight muscle bands associated with trigger points, leading to decreased pain and improved function.

What are the benefits of dry needling?

Benefits include:

  • Reducing pain and stiffness
  • Improving flexibility
  • Speeding up the recovery time
  • Improving range of motion
  • Easing joint pain
  • Decreasing neurological pain

What conditions can dry needling help treat?

Dry needling can provide relief for several medical conditions, including:

  • Back pain or neck pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle pain
  • Pelvic pain
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Shin splints
  • Shoulder impingements
  • Spinal issues
  • Sports injuries
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
  • Tendonitis
  • Tennis elbow
  • Trigger points
  • Whiplash and auto accident injuries

Is dry needling safe?

Trigger point dry needling is a safe and effective way to relieve muscle pain and tension in patients of all ages, including pregnant women and children. I use individually packaged, sterile single use and disposable needles. They are extremely fine (.16 to .30mm) and rarely cause bruising or bleeding. Some patients experience a slight tickle, while others say they feel a short period of pain. It can be normal to experience muscle soreness as the trigger point continues to work itself out, but that should clear up after one to two days.

What can you expect during a session?

After I identify the trigger point causing your pain or dysfunction, I gently insert a dry needle and manipulate it at the site until there’s a twitch response, indicating the muscle knot has released. The needle may be placed deeply or shallowly, for a short or long period of time, depending on your condition. Depending on the severity of your muscle tightness, you may need two to four sessions spaced one to two weeks apart to get lasting relief.

Can dry needling be used in conjunction with other treatments?

Like many of the services provided at our clinics, trigger point dry needling works well in conjunction with other treatments, including chiropractic adjustments, cupping, soft tissue therapy, laser therapy and rehabilitative taping.

Please use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment, or call 712-249-8231 for more information.

Online Scheduling Made Easier

Big things are happening at Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic! In addition to relocating our Council Bluffs clinic, we recently updated our online scheduling options to make it easier for you to conveniently book an appointment from your desktop, tablet or mobile device. Simply click the link on our homepage or visit scheduler.chirofusionlive.com/pcsfchiropractic to book an appointment today!

Appointments are available at our clinics during the following times:

Council Bluffs Clinic Hours

  • Mondays and Wednesdays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Fridays – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Oakland Clinic Hours

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information or help setting up an appointment, call 712-249-8231.

What to Expect Before and After Cupping Therapy

The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo are right around the corner, and we thought it would be the perfect time to discuss cupping therapy, a treatment option made popular by Michael Phelps during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. While the treatment may be trendy now, it’s actually not new. In fact, cupping dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

How does cupping therapy work?

Cupping is an ancient Chinese therapy that’s based on the belief that certain health problems can be caused by stagnant blood and a poor energy flow through your body. The treatment involves applying glass or silicone cups to the skin to create pressure. (We use silicone cups at our clinics.) The suction promotes blood flow to the affected areas, which in turn helps stimulate the natural healing process to relieve tension and inflammation in the muscles.

What conditions can cupping therapy help treat?

The British Cupping Society says that cupping therapy is used to treat:

  • Back pain and neck pain
  • Knee pain
  • Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma
  • Varicose veins

Is cupping therapy safe?

As long as it’s performed by a trained healthcare professional, cupping is a safe and effective treatment option for patients of all ages. It is not recommended for anyone with a history of bleeding disorders, blood clotting conditions or seizures.

Benefits include:

  • Relieving muscle pain and tightness – Cupping is a safe treatment option that helps resolve chronic muscle tightness and pain by promoting blood flow to the affected area(s).
  • Increasing circulation – The suction from the cups increases circulation to the area where the cups are placed. The additional blood flow to that area helps relieve muscle tension and promote cell repair.
  • Promoting detox – Targeted blood flow helps your body by flushing built-up toxins through the lymphatic system, which is responsible for eliminating your body’s toxins and waste.
  • Reducing anxiety – Your parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for slowing your heart rate, assisting in digestion and increasing intestinal activity. Cupping helps promote deep relaxation by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system.

What should you expect after treatment?

Depending on your condition, you may experience mild discomfort after treatment. The suction force from cupping breaks open tiny blood vessels under the skin, which can leave round bruise-like marks that fade within a week or two.

To book an appointment, please use our online scheduling tool. For more information, call 712-249-8231.

Can Chiropractic Care Help Relieve Ear Infections?

Research shows that nearly 80 percent of children experience at least one ear infection by the age of three. Below, we discuss the common causes and symptoms of ear infections, as well as how chiropractic care can help.

What causes ear infections in children?

Ear infections are primarily bacterial infections. They happen when a child’s Eustachian tubes swell and become blocked. This swelling and blockage causes fluid to accumulate in the middle ear behind the eardrum. Typically, this occurs when a child has an upper respiratory infection. Swelling and blockage in the Eustachian tubes can also be attributed to excess mucus, allergies, changes in air pressure, swollen adenoids and secondhand smoke. Moving to an area with a significantly different climate, traveling from a high to a low altitude, or using a pacifier can also increase the likelihood of developing an ear infection.

It’s also worth noting that there are two different types of ear infections: chronic ear infections and acute ear infections. Acute ear infections don’t last very long and typically clear up without treatment. Chronic ear infections, on the other hand, usually require some sort of treatment to prevent them from reoccurring. If your child is experiencing chronic ear infections, it’s important to seek treatment right away in order to prevent permanent damage to the inner ear.

What are the symptoms of an ear infection?

Common symptoms include:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Fussiness or frequent crying
  • Tugging or pulling at the affected ear(s)
  • Inability to detect low-decibel sounds
  • Pus-like fluid drains from the ear(s)
  • Fever, particularly in newborns and younger children
  • Pain (even mild) in the ear
  • A persistent feeling of excess pressure inside the ear
  • General lack of body balance
  • Changes in mood/mood swings

How can chiropractic care help?

Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to relieve pain or discomfort caused by ear infections. At our clinic, we use a gentle, non-invasive treatment known as a chiropractic adjustment to reduce joint restrictions and misalignments in the spine. Upper cervical adjustments help promote fluid drainage, reducing the likelihood of buildup and subsequent infections. Chiropractic adjustments of the occiput (back of the skull) and atlas (first cervical vertebra) help prevent chronic ear infections by correcting misalignments and dysfunction.

Below are some of the benefits chiropractic adjustments provide for children with ear infections:

  • Relief from pain and discomfort
  • Increased mobility in the upper spine
  • Decreased inflammation

Want to learn more about pediatric chiropractic care? Visit our blog post. Please use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment, or call 712-249-8231 for more information.