Lower Back Pain

The feet make up the body’s postural foundation. Whenever we stand, walk, or run, the lumbar spine and pelvis balance on our legs, knees, ankles and feet.

Most chronic low back pain can be attributed to some form of imbalance in one or both of the feet. Leg length inequalities, foot asymmetries, or postural misalignments can all produce abnormal forces that will likely interfere with spinal function.

It’s is for this reason that our practioners examine the lower extremities, especially the feet for asymmetries.

Causes of low back pain attributed to foot imbalances

Excessive foot pronation and/or arch collapse, will produce internal rotation stresses to the leg, hip, pelvis, and low back. The result is recurring subluxations and eventual ligament instability affecting the sacroiliac and lumbar spine joints. These forces can be decreased significantly with the use of flexible, custom-made orthotics.

Degenerative changes in the lumbar discs and facets, heel-strike force may aggravate and perpetuate low back pain. This force is easily reduced with the use of shock-absorbing shoe inserts or orthotics which contain viscoelastic compounds. Symptom reduction is often dramatic.

An anatomical difference in leg length produces strains to the pelvic and low back structures. These strains can cause not only chronic pain, but have also been shown to result in specific degenerative changes. The use of lifts and orthotics has been shown to reduce these structural strains and bring about significant response