Back pain is one of the most common issues faced by millions of people worldwide. This condition is a result of multiple factors like long sitting hours, sedentary lifestyle choices, poor posture, or any injury.
Apart from these, a major factor that is often overlooked while diagnosing the cause of back pain is poor foot health. According to Dr. Neeraj Gupta, Consultant Orthopedics, Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad, our feet play an important role in maintaining stability, balance, and posture of the body as the spine is connected with the feet.
It keeps the ankles, knees, and spine in proper alignment with the body.
There are various foot conditions that are responsible for causing the misalignment which leads to discomfort in different parts of the body including back pain:
- Flat feet- A condition also known as fallen arches that causes the bottom of the feet to make complete or nearly complete contact with the ground. This leads to imbalance and improper body alignment because of the inability of the feet to absorb the shock without the natural arch. Over time, this can cause changes in posture and add stress to the lower back as it will work harder to maintain the balance.
- High Arches- Another foot condition that can contribute to back pain can be high arches which leads to uneven distribution of weight. It causes the foot to roll outwards during any movement affecting the ankles and the knees and putting strain on the lower back.
- Pinching in the nerves- Sciatic nerve, a group of five nerves connecting the lower part of the spine to your feet. When this nerve is pinched or compressed due to any poor walking pattern or posture, then it may lead to back pain.
- Improper footwear- Frequently wearing footwear that has insufficient arch support and poor footwear choices can contribute to foot pain and the increased stress to the lower part of the spine causing pain and discomfort.
According to Dr. Gupta, the interrelation between poor foot health and back pain can help in proper understanding of how back pain issues are solved or prevented by maintaining the health of our feet.
Lifestyle modification and other factors that can contribute to this are:
- Strengthening the foot muscles– Incorporating exercises that help to strengthen the muscles and improve balance and posture can help in avoiding back pain due to poor foot health.
- Wearing proper footwear– Investing in footwears that fit properly and can provide sufficient arch support. Avoid wearing health or uncomfortable shoes that cause foot pain. Orthotics footwear is suggested for people with flat and high arches to help distribute the weight equally.
- Healthy weight– Maintaining proper and healthy weight can help in back pain by putting less weight on the feet and in turn promoting good posture and walking pattern.
- Early intervention– In case of consistent foot and back pain, it is advised to seek medical help to avoid any serious damage and worsening the condition. Timely intervention can help in proper treatment.
“Back pain can be quite challenging and painful especially while doing simple everyday activities like walking or sitting. The link between foot heath and back pain cannot be avoided as it is an equally important factor that should be considered while diagnosing the root cause of back pain. Poor foot health can significantly contribute towards back related issues,” Dr. Gupta told Financial Express.com.
Taking care of the foot’s health is important and in case of any persistent pain, it is advised to consult a healthcare provider immediately, he said.