“Text Neck” for Your Hips?
Why Lower Back Pain Starts in Your Feet
We all know about “Text Neck.” It’s that the strain on your cervical spine from constantly looking down at your phone, and it’s a modern epidemic. But did you know your feet can cause a similar, equally painful misalignment in your lower back?
If you suffer from chronic lower back pain that worsens when you stand or walk, but your MRI shows your spine is relatively healthy, the problem might not be your posture. It might be your pronation. Cypress Foot & Ankle explores the issue below.
The Mechanics of the “Swayback”
Your body is a Kinetic Chain. Everything is connected, from your heel bone to the base of your skull. Here is the mechanical domino effect of flat feet that leads to back pain:
- The Collapse: Your arch collapses inward (overpronation) with every step.
- The Twist: This collapse pulls your shin bone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur) inward (internal rotation).
- The Dump: To compensate for your legs twisting inward, your pelvis dumps forward (Anterior Pelvic Tilt).
This “dump” creates a deep, exaggerated curve in your lower spine (swayback or hyperlordosis). And that curve, in turn, jams the facet joints of your vertebrae together, straining the lower back muscles, which have to work overtime to keep you upright.
You can massage your back all day, but if you don’t stop the “dump” at the pelvis, the pain will always return the moment you stand up.
The Fix: Support from the Ground Up
You simply can’t fix the hips without fixing the feet. This is where the distinction between “cushion” and “correction” becomes vital.
- Custom Orthotics: By placing a structural support under the arch, we mechanically stop the internal rotation of the leg. This allows the pelvis to settle back into a neutral, level position, relieving the pressure on the lower spine.
The Mirror Test: Stand in front of a full-length mirror. If your feet roll in and you notice your lower back has a deep curve (or your stomach pooches out despite being fit), your back pain is likely a foot problem.
Stand Tall, Hurt Less
Postural problems and issues with biomechanics are ingrained in your lifestyle, so they won’t just conveniently vanish when you need them to.
Don’t let minor complications keep getting worse! Being off balance doesn’t need to be a permanent state of affairs, so come see us to realign your chain. We can stop the twist at the source and finally give your back a rest.
Experiencing pain or seeking preventative care? Cypress Foot & Ankle Center offers a wide range of services to address all your foot and ankle needs. While we focus on non-surgical treatments, our team also provides advanced surgical procedures when necessary, using the latest technologies to ensure superior outcomes. Call (281) 377-4040 or contact us online.
