Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Wear My Sneakers?
You've tried stretching, you've tried different mattresses…but that nagging pain in your lower back or knees still flares up every time you go for a walk or spend a long day on the go. You might not realize it, but the root cause of your back and knee pain may not be in your spine at all. In fact, it could be a problem with your feet.
Read on for a rundown of the problem and some possible solutions, too, courtesy of The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine.
Wait, My FEET Are Why My BACK Hurts…?
Your feet are the foundation of your entire skeletal structure. If the foundation is misaligned, the consequences ripple up through the ankles, knees, hips, and directly into your lower back. This is particularly true with the aftermath of ACL injuries:
Poor foot mechanics can sabotage your comfort, but there are several methods a podiatrist can try to stop the pain.
The Biomechanical Ripple Effect (Ground Up)
When you take a step, your foot absorbs the impact and distributes the force up your leg. If your foot is collapsing or twisting, it puts rotational stress on the joints above it:
The Problem: Overpronation (your foot rolling inward excessively) or Oversupination (your foot rolling outward).
The Ankle: Pronation causes the ankle to roll and flatten the arch.
The Knee: The rolling ankle forces the knee to twist inward, irritating the joint (a common cause of runner's knee).
The Hip & Back: The twist in the knee and hip throws your entire pelvic alignment off-center. Your lower back muscles constantly strain to compensate for this imbalance, leading to chronic, dull back pain.
In simple terms: if your feet are unstable, everything above them has to work harder to keep you upright.
Why Store-Bought Insoles Don't Solve the Problem
If you've already tried a generic cushion in your sneakers, you know the results are limited.
· Over-the-counter insoles are built to a generic size. They provide cushioning, but they don't provide correction.
· They can't possibly correct a unique problem like a 10-degree inward roll of your foot structure.
· The only way to fix an alignment problem is with a prescription for alignment.
The True Solution: Custom Orthotics
A podiatrist addresses this problem directly by prescribing custom orthotics.
What they are: They are prescription medical devices built from a precise 3D scan of your non-weight-bearing foot. They are as unique as your fingerprints.
How they work: The orthotic is crafted to gently hold your foot in its optimal, neutral position. When you step down, the orthotic stops the foot from collapsing inward (overpronation).
The Result: By fixing the foundation, the twisting in your knee stops, the pressure on your hip stabilizes, and your lower back muscles can finally relax. The back pain that started in your feet vanishes.
If you have chronic knee or lower back pain that you notice worsening when you walk or exercise, don't waste time treating the symptoms. Schedule a consultation! We’ll perform a gait analysis and determine if a foundational problem in your feet is the real source of your discomfort.
At The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine, we offer busy New Yorkers prompt diagnosis and treatments specific to their individual needs. Podiatrists Dr. Jonathan M. Levy, Dr. Nadia F. Levy, Dr. Diane M. Castro, Dr. Josef Geldwert, and Dr. Katherine Lai are eager to help you at our convenient mid-town Manhattan or Upper East Side locations. Contact us today.
