Many people suffer from back pain, but rarely do they consider the source of the problem may be somewhere else in the body. Many people experiencing back pain seek relief but don't realize that the root cause of the problem is their feet.
When you think about it, it makes sense. After all, everything in the body is connected. When one part is out of whack, it can affect the other parts. Feet problems can cause a problem in the ankle, which causes a problem in the knee. This chain can work its way up, leaving the back to get the brunt of it.
Foot Problems That Cause Lower Back Pain
One very common foot problem that causes back pain is pes planus, otherwise known as "flat feet." This is when pressure causes the arches to flatten, causing the legs to rotate inward. This causes an unnatural pelvic tilt, increasing stress in the lower back.
People with flat feet often experience back pain and fatigue, especially after physical activity, or after a long workday standing and walking around.
On the flip side, supination is another condition that isn't any better than flat feet. The opposite of flat feet, people with supination have high arches.
Your arches are like shock absorbers; their job is to allow your foot to be a bit springy so impacts don't cause any damage. High arches make the foot too rigid to absorb shock effectively. Spending a lot of time walking on hard surfaces, running, or jumping when you have high arches can lead to back pain.
Foot pain in general also causes back pain. Your foot can hurt for any number of reasons—an injury, a blister, an ingrown toe nail, bone spurs, or ill-fitting shoes can cause your foot to hurt. This may cause you to limp, hobble, walk on your toes, or walk on the outside edges of your feet. This poor foot posture can lead to strained muscles and joints going up the leg, into the back.
Chiropractic Care Can Help Back Pain from Foot Issues
While you should address your foot issues with your healthcare provider, you might consider seeing a chiropractor to help with your back pain. Any foot pain that causes strain on your back can knock vertebrae out of alignment, and this can have a domino effect on the rest of the musculoskeletal system. Misalignments can cause inflammation, pain, and swelling, and may pinch nerves and disrupt the flow of signals through the central nervous system.
Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas is a practitioner of the Blair Chiropractic Technique. This technique targets misalignments using advanced diagnostic tools and gentle manipulations to restore the spine's natural, healthy position.
Dr. Elder has a three-step plan for patients that begins with a thorough health screening. This screening includes scanning using advanced 3D diagnostic imaging tools so that the doctor can examine and calculate any misalignments. The doctor can then discuss your options with you and help formulate a treatment plan.
The second step involves manipulations using gentle pressure. Unlike the jolts and twists of traditional chiropractic methods, doctors practicing the Blair technique utilize 3D technology to apply more precise corrections with low-pressure adjustments.
The final step is preventative; Dr. Elder recommends regular check-ups to ensure corrections hold and to nip any future problems in the bud. Contact Dr. Elder if foot problems have caused your back pain. The doctor's area of coverage includes Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.