It is no surprise that when most people suffer from back pain or sciatica that the first place they may check for problems in their body is in the back or hips. But did you know that the human body is like a finely tuned instrument? When one part of the body is out of balance, it can mean problems in so many other parts of the body as well. The problem with your back may not be in your back itself, but maybe in your feet.
You use your feet for so many activities throughout the day that even a small problem in your feet can through your back out of alignment and wreak all sorts of havoc on you. If your health is generally well, then consider your feet.
Do you tend to wear out a certain side of your shoes or socks before the others? Are your feet angled either inward or outward while you walk? Are your toes crooked? Do you suffer from additional pain in your ankles or shins in addition to back pain? Are your feet tired after a long day in general?
These could all be signs that there is something wrong with the alignment of your feet that could be causing back pain. Your feet help to balance you, act as shock absorbers for the stresses that walking (really a controlled form of falling) have on your body.
Problems such as pronation (tilting your feet inward too much) can cause the leg to rotate, the pelvis to shift, and the curvature of the spine to change. As you can see your body really is a very delicate thing. If one thing such as your feet are out of alignment, it can really throw everything else off too.
Foot orthotics can solve a lot of these problems. Now, maybe you don’t like the idea of orthotics, after all, wasn’t the kid in school that had orthopedic shoes the one who always got laughed at? Well, that may have been the case back then, but you’re an adult now and there is nothing embarrassing about taking an interest in your health.
There are 2 major kinds of orthotics
1. The first kind helps to correct minor deformities in the foot. These functional and supportive orthotics can help with flat feet, high arches, or problems with the ball or heel of the foot.
2. The second type helps to distribute the weight in your feet better. These types of devices help to spread the weight of the body more evenly with padding and cushioning.
If you’re experiencing back pain, consider that it may actually be a misalignment of your feet that could be resulting in the back pain you are experiencing. If your feet are out of alignment, this issue can be corrected with orthotic shoe inserts that can help you hold your feet in a better position. Over time this will help you keep the rest of your body in alignment and help you ease your back pain.