If you have back pain, the problem might be your feet
We all know how annoying it is to have back pain, constantly having to take pain killers like they’re sweets or filling your water bottle up every hour. Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek medical advice, it can sometimes be caused by a problem with the joints, bones or tissues around the spine. Some back problems start for no reason at all, such as staying in one position for too long,or doing more activity than normal, but there is a cause no one talks about - your feet. Â
Common conditions affected by the feetÂ
The sciatic nerve is a group of five spinal nerves in the lower spine called the lumbosacral, the nerves run through the lower spine through to your legs. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, and this allows you to walk, run or stand. It is formed by a combination of nerve roots from the lower spine, specifically the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. You have most probably heard of sciatica, it is when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed and causes pain that radiates from your lower back to your feet. Â
What is the solution?Â
There are many options for you if you are suffering from a foot related back condition. A doctor may use gait analysis to find the perfect orthotic for you. A gait analysis is an assessment of the way the body moves, this is done by usually running or walking from one place to another. The reason this is done is to check any abnormalities in the way a person walks, their gait is a combination of complex functions involving the use of the body’s visual and vestibular system. The Optogait system offers a high-performance video and infrared equipment that can be tailored to patients’ needs to improve outcome for both practitioners and patients. Click here to book your free demonstration: https://www.algeos.com/contact-usÂ
Morton’s Neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of the foot, and back pain can be explained through this condition by how we walk or distribute our weight. It is where there’s a thickening of the tissue around a nerve in your foot that’s been irritated or damaged. The causes of Morton’s Neuroma include wearing tight point shoes, wearing high-heeled shoes, doing a lot of running or other sports that place pressure on your feet, or having other foot problems including being flat-footed, high-arched or hammer toes. When you have this condition, the altered gait can lead to changes in how weight is distributed to your lower limbs and spine. By putting pressure on painful areas of the foot, this can also result in an altered posture. Â
Flat feet is a condition where the arches of your feet are significantly lower, this can lead to the entire foot making full contact with the ground when standing. While flat feet don’t always cause back pain, they can contribute to changes in the alignment, posture, and mechanics of the lower body, which can ultimately lead to back pain. Â
Plantar fasciitis is a condition characterised by inflammation and pain in the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. This can potentially link to back pain through altered gait and posture, muscle imbalances, kinetic chain, and spinal alignment. Â
Source:
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/back-painhttps://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/back-painÂ
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/conditions/sciaticaÂ
https://www.orthomedctr.com/gait-analysis.phpÂ
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21618-sciatic-nerveÂ
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mortons-neuroma/Â
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15118-mortons-neuromaÂ