Thursday, August 22, 2024 - 20:39

August 23, 2024

Lower back pain is a very common complaint, with 18% of the world’s population suffering from some form of it. One cause that is commonly overlooked is poor foot mechanics.When the feet are not functioning properly, it can throw off the entire body's alignment causing issues in the knees, hips and lower back. Studies even show us that chronic lower back pain is 4.5 times more likely in people with flat feet, indicating how important your postural foundations are to your physical wellbeing.

Focusing on the feet to help your back may seem like a hopeless endeavor. However, those struggling with back pain may not realize how much they relate to each other. As far as we know, everything in your body is connected. A network of connective tissue extends from your feet and up towards your head. Focusing on your feet stretching is the starting point and gives your body a good base. This reduces tightness that travels upwards, which has a positive effect on your lumbar spine (lower back). There’s also the link between your lower back, nerves, and feet. Compression or pinching of the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back down your legs can cause pain in the lower back and your feet.

 Moreover, if you notice ankle pain or foot pain and pain in the lumbar spine (lower back), the culprit may be a biomechanical foot condition like flat feet. Flat feet can mess up your posture and your gait by forcing your thighs and knees to rotate inward. This causes your lower back to curve more than necessary, placing pressure on your knees, hips and back.

Speaking of your gait, those who overpronate (feet turn inward while walking) are more likely to experience lower back pain as the feet repeatedly turn inward.  And the opposite, if you supinate (feet turn outward while walking), you may experience a misalignment of the spine and hips, also causing lower back pain.

Not only can foot pain cause back pain, but back pain can also cause foot pain. Certain types of arthritic conditions that affect the back, like ankylosing spondylitis, have been linked to Achilles’ tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. This is because the arthritic damage affects our posture and shock absorption, so our feet and ankles then have to pick up the burden. 

Supportive footwear also contributes to spinal health more than you know. The key is arch support, which helps align your body and readjusts how your feet hit the ground with each step. Poor arch support will directly affect your posture and gait while causing lower back pain.

Once you understand the link between your feet and your back, it becomes clear how foot stretches can help manage pain, and we can help you by using the Rossiter Stretching Techniques. Unlike muscle stretches, Rossiter stretching techniques target the body's connective tissue, a head-to-toe network of fascia, ligaments, and tendons that holds everything together. These techniques are used specifically to loosen and lengthen the body's entire network of connective tissue so that it's loose, fluid, flexible and normal again - allowing you to move freely, and without pain.