What causes foot pain and how is it treated?
Foot pain has many causes — plantar fasciitis, arthritis, sprains, tendonitis, and bunions are the most common. Most cases respond to conservative care: foot and ankle adjustments, Class IV laser therapy, soft-tissue therapy, supportive footwear, and targeted exercises. At McAlpine Chiropractic Group in Holland, MI, we identify the specific source of your foot pain and treat the underlying mechanics, not just the symptoms.
Foot pain affects an estimated 1 in 4 adults at any given time. Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. That complexity means foot pain has many possible sources — and the right treatment depends entirely on identifying the correct one.
At McAlpine Chiropractic Group in Holland, MI, we focus on the mechanical causes of foot pain — joint alignment, muscle imbalance, fascial restriction, and the upstream issues at the knee, hip, and lower back that can put the wrong load on your feet. Most patients see meaningful improvement in 2 to 6 weeks with conservative care.
What is Foot Pain?
Foot pain is any discomfort affecting the toes, ball of the foot, arch, heel, or ankle. Common patterns include:
- Heel pain — often plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis
- Arch pain — flat-foot mechanics, plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
- Ball-of-foot pain (metatarsalgia) — neuromas, capsulitis, stress reactions, turf toe
- Toe pain — bunions, hammertoes, gout, arthritis
- Top-of-foot pain — extensor tendinitis, stress fractures, nerve compression
The location and quality of pain — sharp vs. achy, worse with first steps in the morning vs. worse at the end of the day — give important clues about the cause.
Common Causes of Foot Pain
Most chronic foot pain has one of these underlying mechanisms:
- Plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the thick fascia along the bottom of the foot. Classic symptom: stabbing heel pain with your first steps in the morning that improves with movement.
- Arthritis — osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis affecting the small joints of the foot, especially the big toe (hallux rigidus) and midfoot.
- Sprains and tendonitis — overuse or sudden injury to the ankle, peroneal tendons, or posterior tibial tendon.
- Stress fractures — small cracks in the metatarsal bones from repetitive impact, especially in runners.
- Bunions and hammertoes — structural deformities that change foot mechanics over years.
- Neuromas — nerve thickening, most often Morton’s neuroma between the third and fourth toes.
- Upstream alignment issues — knee, hip, or low-back problems that change how you load your feet.
How We Treat Foot Pain at McAlpine Chiropractic
Our treatment plan depends on the specific diagnosis, but most plans include some combination of:
Foot and ankle chiropractic adjustments — extremity adjustments restore proper motion to the small joints of the foot and ankle. Dr. Phillip Maletta has a specialty in extremity adjusting and routinely works with foot pain.
Class IV laser therapy — laser therapy reduces inflammation in the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, or other involved tissues and accelerates healing. It is particularly effective for plantar fasciitis and tendinopathies.
Soft-tissue therapy and stretching — releasing the calf, plantar fascia, and intrinsic foot muscles. Therapeutic massage often helps stubborn cases.
Supportive footwear and orthotics guidance — we evaluate your shoes and recommend changes when appropriate. Custom orthotics are not always necessary; often a better off-the-shelf shoe is enough.
Strength and mobility exercises — toe spreads, calf stretching, and intrinsic foot exercises rebuild the foot’s natural support system.
Address upstream issues — we evaluate knee, hip, and low-back mechanics. Foot pain that returns after treatment often has a hidden cause higher up the kinetic chain.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit takes about 45 minutes. We perform orthopedic and neurological tests, evaluate gait, examine the foot and ankle joints, and assess upstream alignment at the knee, hip, and pelvis. We will give you a working diagnosis, an initial treatment plan, and your first round of hands-on therapy in the same visit.
Most patients see meaningful relief within 2 to 6 weeks of consistent care. Plantar fasciitis often responds particularly well to laser therapy plus calf and plantar-fascia stretching. Stubborn cases driven by structural problems (severe bunions, advanced arthritis) may need coordinated care with a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist — we make that referral when appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my heel hurt with the first steps in the morning?
That pattern is highly characteristic of plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia tightens overnight, then gets pulled forcefully when you stand up. The pain typically eases after a few minutes of walking, then returns at the end of the day. It usually responds well to laser therapy + targeted stretching + footwear changes.
Should I just buy better shoes and skip treatment?
Better shoes help, but they rarely fix established foot pain on their own. Most chronic foot pain has multiple contributors — joint restriction, soft-tissue irritation, and movement-pattern errors — that footwear alone does not address. The combination of footwear changes plus active treatment is much more effective.
Are foot adjustments safe?
Yes. Foot and ankle adjustments are gentle, low-force techniques that improve motion in the small joints. They are very different from a spinal adjustment. Most patients describe them as relieving rather than uncomfortable.
Do I need an X-ray or MRI?
Not always. Imaging is appropriate when we suspect a stress fracture, severe arthritis, or other structural issues, or if conservative care does not produce expected progress within 4 weeks. Most foot pain is diagnosed clinically without imaging.
Can chiropractic care help with arthritis pain in my feet?
Yes — for symptom management. We cannot reverse arthritis, but we can improve joint mobility, reduce inflammation with laser therapy, and address compensatory patterns that make arthritis worse. Many patients with foot arthritis function much better with regular care.
Schedule a Foot Pain Evaluation in Holland, MI
If foot pain is interfering with walking, exercise, or work, schedule an evaluation. Call 616-392-7031 or book online. We see foot-pain patients weekly and most leave the first visit with a clear diagnosis, a treatment plan, and meaningful relief from the first round of care.