Posts Tagged Back pain

One of the most incapacitating injuries in the general population in our country is chronic low back pain. The problem is so severe that one-half of all Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. According to the American Chiropractic Association, chronic low back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, $50 billion dollars is spent each year on treating low back pain.

Recent research suggests that back pain may be closely linked to poor or improper biomechanics. Many researchers, in fact agree that chronic low back pain may be significantly related to how you walk (gait style), a reason we are shifting our focus to the feet to treat hip and back pain.

Everyone knows that low back pain is a recurrent problem. One predominant reason is because most doctors do not look at the way you walk. One flaw in your gait style can lead to strain on your back. Using custom foot orthotics to change the mechanics of foot function may improve hip extension and create prolonged relief of low back symptoms.

Using foot orthotics to effectively treat hip and low back problems has been studied extensively by podiatrists specializing in this area of foot care. It has been found through computerized in-shoe testing, that a specialized foot orthotic eliminates the flaw that causes strain on the back. Getting the feet to function exactly like they are supposed to allows the hips to extend properly. Normal hip extension, changing the gait as a person walks, eliminates strain on the back.

There are countless cases of custom foot orthotics relieving hip and back pain for the clients of podiatrists. Anyone who suffers from chronic hip or back pain should be sure to consider this solution and be evaluated by a podiatrist to assess their feet and observe their walking patterns. Since your doctor may not consider your feet as the possible cause of the pain, you will have to take it upon yourself to be proactive and see a specialist.

Medications, rest, exercise and losing weight may all be effective in relieving hip and back pain. Unfortunately, they are not a cure in most cases. Eliminating the cause of the pain should be the ultimate goal. Since faulty foot mechanics is often the cause of back pain, using custom foot orthotics can be provide a lifetime of relief from this otherwise chronic condition.