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Are Your Feet Causing Your Back Pain?

Your back has been bothering you, but you can quite put your finger on the source of it. You didn’t move wrong or stretch poorly. You haven’t had any recent falls or accidents. However, you can’t figure out what is causing your back to ache. There’s a good chance you didn’t consider that your feet could be the reason behind your back pain. So let’s break down how your feet could be the root of your pain issue and how you can move forward.

Connections in Your Body

You’ve probably heard the song “Dry Bones,” where the singers talk about how one bone is connected to the subsequent bone or how kids sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” The truth is that your body is connected in so many ways, and while it may seem weird that some issue with your feet is causing your back to hurt, but when you look at how nerves, muscles, and other systems under your skin are connected it can start to make sense.

For instance, your sciatic nerve runs from the lower portion of your spine all the way down your legs. The sciatic nerve is a bundle of five different nerves, and they can cause all kinds of problems when the nerve has been pinched or damaged. You may feel the pain from these sciatic nerve problems in your legs, feet, or back without even realizing that it’s your sciatic nerve that’s the root cause of the pain

Foot Shape and Movement

Even how your foot is shaped or how you walk can cause you to have back pain. For example, people with “flat feet” or high arches can have issues with back pain relating to their foot’s shape. Your arch plays a significant role in how you walk. People who experience underpronation or have their feet turn outward while walking or running and overpronation or having their feet turn inward during walking and running may experience back pain if they don’t correct their movement. Often, this can be corrected with the proper footwear, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other methodologies.

Body Shape

Another possibility for why your feet could be causing your back pain has to do with your body shape. Posture, differing lengths of your legs, and similar factors can contribute to back pain occurring from walking or standing.

Shoe Choices

The shoes that you wear can also contribute to back pain. For instance, high heels can cause the wearer to alter their posture, damage their feet, and cause other issues. Many people may assume that foot pain is the only issue that high heels can cause, but it can create other health issues, such as back pain. The same is true of wearing shoes that don’t properly support your arch. Over time, your shoes can contribute to back pain, especially if you wear them often and are on your feet for long periods.

LifeGiving Chiropractic is here for you. Our staff can help you determine if your back pain is coming from your feet or another source and create a treatment plan to help you get back on your feet without the pain. Contact us today to learn more about setting up an appointment and what you can expect.

1 Join the Conversation

  1. Iris Smith says
    Nov 11, 2022 at 2:19 AM

    Thank you for pointing out that high heels can result in additional health problems, such as back pain, despite what many people might believe. My sister, who enjoys wearing high heels, has recently complained of back problems. I'll advise her to seek professional therapy for her foot pain before it gets worse.

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