Don't forget to look through Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center's older blog articles for more compelling facts and stories of interest!

Low back pain is a drag. If you’re suffering with low back pain, whether it presents as a dull ache, sharp stabby pain, or the occasional lightning strike across the backside of your torso, you might be surprised to hear that your feet could be the problem.

I know, they’re so far away, but remember that old song …

“The foot bone's connected to the leg bone.
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone.
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone.
Doin' the skeleton dance.
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone.
The hip bone's connected to the backbone.
The backbone's connected to the neck bone.
Doin' the skeleton dance.”

Well, it turns out that it’s true. It’s all connected, and one thing can affect another higher up the chain.

Here’s how your feet can cause some pain in your low back:

Your sciatic nerve (actually a bundle of five nerves that runs from the lower part of your spine down your legs) can cause some incredibly painful experiences if it becomes compressed or “pinched.” This nerve bundle can become compressed due to a number of mishaps, including compression caused by shoes without proper cushioning and support. The impact of a hard slap of your improperly protected foot against a hard surface can compress your spine, causing the “pinched” nerve.

Got flat feet? Flat feet can cause your thighs and knees to rotate inward. This rotation can, in turn (see what I did there?) cause an exaggerated curvature of your lower back. Over time, the pressure on your hips and knees can lead to back pain.

Take a look at the bottom of your shoes. Is one side more worn than the other? If it’s tattered on the inside of your soles, you overpronate when you walk or run. That’s just a big fancy word for turning your toes in toward each other. “Supination” (underpronation) is an even fancier word for the opposite: “duck walking,” as my Granny used to call it, where your toes point excessively outward. Either of these can cause some nasty pain in your low back, hips, and knees.

Alright, so now that you know how your tootsies can cause low back pain, what can you do about it? Actually, plenty!

Buy new shoes (finally - an authentic reason to hit the shoe stores!) Before you start perusing the “uncomfortable, but oh so fabulous” aisle, take a peek at the athletic shoe department. If you’re going to be on your feet all day, walking a distance, or even just standing on a hard surface for more than 10 minutes, look for a shoe that has good cushioning and arch support.

Don’t have the budget for a whole new shoe wardrobe? Try orthotics; they’re lightweight, fit into most shoes (sorry, but the flip flops have to go), and can definitely help to prevent both foot and low back pain.

Try to notice how your foot hits the pavement, too. Are you over- or underpronating? How hard is your foot hitting the surface … and which part hits first? Concentrate on adjusting your step so that your foot rolls into the step, rather than slapping hard into the ground. According to an article by Digitsole, “To get an ideal pattern, you should strike the ground with the outer part of your heel, slightly move your foot inwards (light pronation movement) to lay it flat. From there, your body's propulsion should be triggered by the front part of your feet for an optimal movement.”[1]

 

If your back pain isn’t going away after you’ve tried upgrading your footwear and adjusting your step patterns, you may need to have a professional take a peek to see if your vertebrae are out of alignment. Schedule a complimentary initial assessment at Gulph Mills Chiropractic to find out what’s happening with “dem bones.” The assessment includes spinal x-rays if necessary, and you’ll get a report of Dr. Roger’s findings based on those x-rays and a few simple postural tests you’ll do in the office. Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center also has an in-house massage therapist, so if worse comes to worst (or if you just really want to …), schedule a massage to work out those aches and pains. Don’t suffer another day: 484-751-5037.



*This information is not meant as medical advice. It is provided solely for education. Dr. Roger, of Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center, would be pleased to discuss your unique circumstances and needs as they relate to these topics during your complimentary initial assessment review.
  
 


[1] https://digitsole.com/walking-101-foot-pattern-part-3/

   

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Our Regular Hours

Monday

7:30 am - 12:30 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday

10:00 am - 12:30 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday

7:30 am - 12:30 pm

Thursday

7:30 am - 12:30 pm

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday

Closed

Saturday

Select Saturdays from 9am to 11am

Mar 30, Apr 13, Apr 27, May 11

Sunday

Closed

Our Regular Hours

Monday
7:30 am - 12:30 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am - 12:30 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wednesday
7:30 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday
7:30 am - 12:30 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Select Saturdays from 9am to 11am Mar 30, Apr 13, Apr 27, May 11
Sunday
Closed