Back pain is a prevalent issue. Roughly eighty percent of the population experiences lower back pain in their lifetime. It is the most common cause of visits to the doctor and is also the most common job-related disability. While injuries can cause lower back pain, your body mechanics can also play a huge part. Even your feet can have a major impact on your back pain. This is because feet are the foundation of your gait and overall body alignment. Avoiding back pain can sometimes be as easy as correcting foot posture problems
Back Pain and Foot Posture
There are several reasons your feet may be causing your lower back pain. Below you will find a few of the common reasons your feet may be the ultimate culprit for causing your back pain.
- Heels: The consequence of wearing heels is that the curve in your spine becomes more pronounced. Due to the change in height, your body needs a lower center of gravity to maintain balance. This results in your hips and lower back being pushed forward with your upper back moving back further. It changes the whole dynamic of your body mechanics as it alters the amount of pressure placed on the discs, muscles, and tendons in your spine. Because the heels have manipulated your posture, it can lead to back pain.
- Arches: Your arches can also be a major factor in any back pain you experience. Whether your arch is too high or you lack an arch, each can negatively impact your back. If your arch is too high, shock absorption will be an issue. If you lack an arch, you can have issues with where the shock is instead absorbed on your foot. Without proper arch support, both of these issues can cause pain in your feet, ankles, and back.
- Steps and Your Gait: As you walk, each step lands on a certain area of your foot. If the pressure lands on the inside of your feet rather than the outside, we call this overpronation. If pressure falls on the outside of your feet, this is oversupination. Both of these place pressure on the wrong areas of your feet. This can lead to foot, ankle, and back pain, as it causes a major error in your body alignment.
- Injury: This is one of the more common causes of back pain. If you injure your foot or ankle, it will likely affect your back. An injury to only one side can affect your gait and disrupt your overall alignment.
Since feet are the body’s foundation, any issue with them can cause problems around the rest of your body, including your back. Any concerns with your feet or ankles can have a ripple effect on your entire body.
When to See a Doctor
Back pain can last anywhere from a few days to a week. Any back pain that lasts longer than three months is considered chronic. Back pain impacts those between the ages of thirty and fifty. This is because natural aging results in a reduction of fluid between the vertebrae in your spine and a loss in muscle tone. If your back pain has impacted your regular daily activities and lasted for more than a week, it’s time to see a specialist. Diagnosis and treatment are necessary to halt any further damage from foot posture problems. Also, if the underlying issue is your feet or ankles, that needs to be treated as well.
Podiatrists in Southern California
If you are concerned about your back pain and think it may be due to an issue with your feet or ankles, contact Foot & Ankle Concepts, Inc. They have many locations all over California, including Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Camarillo, Palmdale, and Westlake. They are skilled in treating foot and ankle pain and are focused on getting you back to full health again! Contact Foot & Ankle Concepts, Inc. today for an appointment!
