When it comes to aches and pains, especially in your back, your feet might not be the first place you’d think to look for answers. But the way your feet move, as well as the way you walk or stand, can have a surprising impact on the health of your spine.
Your feet are the foundation of your entire musculoskeletal system. If that foundation is unstable, everything above it can suffer. At Premier Foot and Ankle & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery, we want you to pay attention to your foot health because it does impact your whole physical being.
Read on to learn how your feet and back are linked as we share what you can do to start feeling better.
Your feet play a critical role in posture and movement. When your foot alignment is off, your body has to compensate to stay balanced. That compensation often starts in your knees or hips, but it travels upward, affecting your lower back and beyond.
For example, flat feet (also known as fallen arches) can cause your ankles to roll inward. This misalignment affects your knees, hips, and pelvis, altering the natural curvature of your spine.
Over time, this can lead to chronic back pain or conditions like sciatica and herniated discs.
High arches can also affect your back. They may cause you to shift your weight unevenly, leading to instability and strain in the lower back.
Even seemingly minor foot concerns can impact the way you move. A blister, bunion, or painful corn may cause you to favor one side, shift your weight unnaturally, or shorten your stride. These adjustments throw off your gait, leading to imbalances that can strain your back.
What you wear on your feet also plays a major role. Shoes with poor support, overly tight toe boxes, or worn-down soles can worsen foot pain and contribute to spinal misalignment. Even supportive shoes need to fit properly to do their job.
Sometimes it’s not your feet that are the problem – a problem in your spine can cause foot pain. Conditions like sciatica can cause tingling, numbness, or shooting pain that travels from the lower back down through the legs and into the feet.
Issues such as spinal stenosis or herniated discs can affect nerve pathways, making it feel like the problem is in your foot, when the real source is higher up.
We can help you find the root cause of your pain so you find relief. Our team offers comprehensive assessments to determine whether your foot mechanics are contributing to your back pain — or vice versa.
We may recommend custom orthotics, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these. The goal is always to restore balance from the ground up so your whole body can move with more ease and less discomfort.
If you’re struggling with either foot pain or back pain — or both — schedule an appointment today. Call Premier Foot and Ankle & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery or use our online tool to schedule your visit to one of our offices, in Worcester, Webster, or Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
