left short leg - ankle and plantar fascia pain

by Lori
(Laramie, Wyoming, USA)

Cuboid subluxation

Cuboid subluxation

My left ankle swells. I have scoliosis, from a short left leg and use a lift about 1/4 inch.


I'm extremely active and do hours and hours of mountain hiking, lift weights and do cardio on an elliptical or treadmill.

The lift seems to make the plantar fasciitis worse, and I have swelling in the left calf ankle and foot. This seems to be better ONLY when I wear an athletic shoe with ankle support. Then, also, the swelling subsides sometimes from actually DOING a long mild walking or cardio.

They MRI'd the ankle about 15 years ago and there was scar tissue in the plantar fascia. The outside 2 tendon's had tears on the "sheathes" and the inside tendon had the same type tears. They also said I had Achilles tendonitis.

What stretches and or exercise can I add in?

I do see a chiropractor at least once a month.

Hello Lori,
Getting the lift in the shoe right is extremely problematic; first there's the thickness, then whether it should be just under the heel, or a full sole under the whole foot.

And then whether it needs to be an expensive orthotic, or simply a simple insert from the pharmacy. All these variables make it tricky to get it right.

Incidentally, insane as it may seem, make sure that the thicker orthotic is indeed in the correct shoe. Now and again, either the patient or doctor can get it wrong. Simplest is to ask someone to stand behind you and place their hands on the iliac crests, first without the inner and then with it in place. Is the pelvis obviously more level? Does it seem too thick, or could be an extra few millimetres?

The wrong shape or thickness can certainly make things worse for your foot and ankle, and also higher up the kinetic chain in the knees and hips.

Talk to your chiropractor about your concerns, and try different options; I hope this contributes. Does he or she also check your foot? Often subluxations of the cuboid or one of the cuneiforms is the problem but it could be in the ankle too.

Dr B


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