Why consider the whole chain?

Sensation, motor control, muscle activation, posture, and positional awareness are governed by the nervous system. Compression or irritation anywhere along the pathway from nerve root to peripheral nerve can effect signaling between the brain and the foot/ankle. This can cause imbalances in muscle function, posture and positional awareness which greatly effect movement.

The entire nervous system is mechanically connected. From the brain to the smallest peripheral nerve in the pinky toe. Compression or irritation up the chain can have downstream effects, altering or limiting the flow of information.

Via the brainstem, the brain connects to the spinal cord. The spinal cord divides into sections called nerve roots, which exit through the vertebra at openings called the intervertebral foramen. In the upper body, the cervical and upper thoracic nerve roots divide and combine to form the major peripheral nerves of the upper body in the brachial plexus. In the lower body, the lumbar and sacral roots divide and combine to create the major peripheral nerves of the lower body, such as the sciatic nerve. These major nerves further divide into smaller peripheral nerves.