Back Pain and Your Feet

Back Pain and Your Feet
By Dr. Jay LaGuardia

Each fall and winter, there seems to be a surge of back problems that are often related to foot problems. A summer of wearing flip flops can be especially detrimental to young developing feet and spines. Your local chiropractor might be talking to you about your feet and its effect on your spine. Here’s why: In eighteen years of practice I have seen all too frequently on-going back problems that could be corrected and prevented with proper evaluation of the feet – yes, the feet. Your feet are the foundation of your body. They support your when you stand, walk or run. They also prevent the joints of all lower extremities from injury (i.e., ankle, knee, hip, low back) when mechanically working well. Your feet will perform better when all muscles, arches and bones are in their ideal stable positions. The foot is constructed with three arches which, when properly maintained, give exceptional support and strength. These three arches form a supporting vault that distributes the weight of the entire body. If there is compromise of one arch in the feet, the other arches must compensate and are subject to additional stresses which usually result in further compromise. It is a chain reaction. Healthcare professionals know alleviating pain in one part of your body often requires treating another part. The pain in your neck or low back could actually be caused by a spinal misalignment that is from unbalanced positioning in your feet. As we walk, there is a fine interplay between the movements in the low extremities and the balancing of the spine. Normal gait causes repetitive motions to occur from the feet to the head. The most common of the arch deformations is known as pronation, which is a flattening of the inside of the food causing an excessive weight bearing load on the inside of the feet. Often with excessive pronation, the ankles will roll in, the knees will approximate (knock knees) and the hips will roll out, resulting in an unbalanced pelvis and spine. Another common arch deformity is supination, where just the opposite occurs. Excessive load occurs on the outside of the foot. The loss of the arch height with excessive pronations causes pelvic tilt and a lateral curvature of the spine to develop. This results in spinal subluxations where the vertebra(e) becomes immobilized, causing tissue changes (inflammation, muscle splinting, and nerve tension). If left uncorrected this will result in spinal decay, arthritis and potential disc problems. Correction of the cause and its secondary effect are critical to well-being and quality of life. Custom-made flexible orthotics can restore balance and provide feet and spine stability. Once this has been achieved, mobilization of the feet is necessary to restore proper placement of the bones in the arch of the feet. Along with correction of the spinal subluxation, specific stretching exercises for the spine are then recommended to help eliminate the abnormal patterns that have developed. During this time, avoidance of lengthy periods of standing and walking is best and running should only gradually be reintroduced. Significance of this problem should not be underestimated. Latest research indicates orthotic use can be beneficial as early as eight years old. Long-tern effects of feet problems, if left unresolved, could include: bunions, planter fascities, hell spurs, Achilles tendon and knee problems and well as hip and spinal damage. Being proactive can save you time, money and needless suffering. Take control of your wellbeing and have your feet evaluated today. Your back will thank you!!