On the back foot - Feet problems can cause back troubles!
- By Dr. T Deepa Porkodi
Backache is the most common disabling factor in young people. Improper posture has often been pointed out as a reason for back pain. But could the feet be a possible reason too?
Yes, say experts!
In women, wearing uncomfortable high heels is a major cause of feet related backache. Whoever said No Pain, No Gain was absolutely right! Beauty does come with a heavy price!
Many of the cases that present in orthopedic OPDs as new case of backache also have an associated symptom of some foot trouble. It is interconnected and most of the patients fail to understand this.
In several cases, the doctor will give you a clean bill of health. You may try getting a better posture and some exercises for your lower back. However, the pain doesn’t go away! If this is the case, ask these questions to yourself:
- Do your feet point out or in excessively when you walk?
- Does one shoe wear out faster than the other?
- Do your feet hurt in general?
- Do you have knee or ankle pain in addition to the backache?
- Did you sprain your ankle in the recent past?
If you have answered yes to any of the questions above, the answer to your backache lies in your feet!
Your feet are the foundation for each step taken by you. Every time you place a foot on the ground, you are transferring your entire weight on to it. This shock can be absorbed well by your feet and some of it is sent upwards reverberating into your knees and hips and lower back. When you lift your foot to walk, the arch of your foot rises up and falls down. In doing so, the leg is being rotated inwards and outwards.
When there is a problem with your foot, like flat feet, injuries on your ankles or soles, improper footwear, this motion of the leg is affected putting more stress on the knees, hips and lower back. This results you in suffering from backache!
In women, wearing uncomfortable high heels is a major cause of feet related backache. Whoever said No Pain, No Gain was absolutely right! Beauty does come with a heavy price!
Changes in the alignment or function of the foot can cause lower back, hip and knee problems. Pathologies present in the foot like a paralysis, limited motion due to a tendon rupture can make you adopt a different gait that won’t stress out your feet. In doing so, it is the other joints like the knee and the hip that are undergoing premature wear and tear.
Orthotics is the method used by orthopedic surgeons the world over to treat the deformities of the musculoskeletal system with the use of ugly looking corrective footwear. This method is fast gaining importance as a cure for feet related back problems. When the gait is compromised due to a faulty foot, orthotics can come in. Corrective footwear can help restore the gait and hence reduce back pain.
