The objective of this article is to describe\u00a0 several cases (n = 3) in which patients with plantar fasciitis,\u00a0 associated with heel spurs, were successfully treated via chiropractic\u00a0 adjustments, emphasizing the correction of posterior calcaneal\u00a0 subluxation.<\/p>\n
This particular group of patients presented with heel pain\u00a0 varying from 2 months to over 4 years in duration. Radiological\u00a0 confirmation of heel spur was evident in each case. Previously\u00a0 unsuccessful treatment regimens included oral anti-inflammatants,\u00a0 steroid injections, orthotics, and sustaining physical therapy. Two of\u00a0 the patients had been deemed candidates for surgical removal of the\u00a0 spurs but had declined to pursue that option, electing instead to use\u00a0 chiropractic care and conservative management in an effort to resolve\u00a0 the condition.<\/p>\n
All patients were treated with short-lever mechanical force,\u00a0 manually assisted chiropractic adjusting procedures, with special\u00a0 emphasis to the foot, ankle, and calcaneus. Although the specific nature\u00a0 of the relevant subluxations varied with each patient, a common\u00a0 denominator with this particular patient population group was the\u00a0 occurrence of a posterior subluxation of the calcaneus. All adjustments\u00a0 were delivered via the use of an Activator Adjusting Instrument and were\u00a0 comfortably tolerated by each patient. Said treatment resulted in a\u00a0 complete resolution of all symptoms in this studied group of patients,\u00a0 with no recurrence being demonstrated over a protracted follow-up period\u00a0 of time.<\/p>\n
The conservative management of heel spur syndrome may be\u00a0 effectively implemented through the use of specific chiropractic\u00a0 adjusting procedures in selected patients presenting with this\u00a0 particular problem Attention to the possibility of posterior subluxation\u00a0 of the calcaneus should be emphasized during the chiropractic\u00a0 examination process. Although other pedal subluxations can be involved\u00a0 as well, the posterior calcaneus is often a common denominator in the\u00a0 subluxation complex associated with this condition. The use of a\u00a0 mechanical force, manually assisted short-lever adjusting technique,\u00a0 such as with an Activator Adjusting Instrument, can provide effective\u00a0 delivery of the chiropractic treatment. Further study, involving larger\u00a0 patient populations, should be provided to more thoroughly investigate\u00a0 this treatment on a wider scale.<\/p>\n