Are your shoes a pain in the back?
According to research, it’s estimated that 80% of the population will experience some degree of back pain in their lifetime. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason people visit their doctor, billions of dollars are lost every year in the workplace because of work absences due to back related injuries, and the national annual cost of the medical treatments and disability payments relating to back pain is more than $15 billion dollars!.
When your back hurts, your entire body hurts, and this can interrupt your day to day activities. If you're suffering from severe backache, particularly after standing or walking for extended periods of time, the cause may not just be due to a problem with your back. As a matter of fact, there’s a good chance your feet, specifically your shoes, are the one of the sources of your pain. If you are experiencing back pain, consider visiting your podiatrist in Manhattan for an evaluation, and find out if your shoes are the problem.
Why Your Shoes May Be Causing Your Back Pain
Your spinal column and the surrounding muscle tissue serve as the foundation of your body. But when strain and stress are exerted on the muscles, tendons and vertebrae, unbearable back pain can be the result. Long hours of standing on your feet, lifting heavy objects incorrectly and age can all play a role in the presence of back pain as well
If you suffer from back pain, it is important to have the condition evaluated by a qualified health care professional who can determine if there is a specific disease process that is occurring within the spine. Proper treatment can then be initiated that may include conservative therapies to relieve the pain and improve overall function.
What many people don’t know, however, is that something as simple as your shoes may be the cause of your agony. The spinal column is comprised of bone with discs of tissue, muscles, ligaments, and sensitive nerve endings. The vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other, making the spinal column both strong and flexible. Poor posture caused by poor fitting shoes, however, can pull the vertebrae out of alignment, which in turn pulls on the tender muscles and nerve endings. Making sure your feet are supported properly will help ensure that your body posture is aligned properly. And if your body is within the correct alignment, back pain may be relieved.
Are You Symmetrical?
Although you may think so, up to 96% of the population, according to some studies suffers from a leg length discrepancy in which one leg, and foot, is longer than the other. The body will naturally compensate for this asymmetry by flattening out one foot more than the other, thereby shortening the leg, but placing increased stress on the foot, leg, knee and hip of the affected side of the body, as well as the lower back. In fact, one study demonstrated that a population of patients suffering from back pain experienced full relief of their pain by simply inserting a lift in the shoe of the shorter leg, which balanced out the legs, and the patients did not require any further treatment.
Selecting the Best Shoes for Your Best Spinal Health
If your shoes do not offer adequate support for your feet, you may be putting yourself at risk for injury, including chronic back pain. That’s why it is very important to replace old, worn shoes that don’t offer the support and stability you need. Instead, purchase shoes that have a thick and cushioned sole to absorb the shock of walking and good arch support. Your podiatrist may also prescribe a custom made insole, or orthotic, that will help stabilize the foot, support the arch, and balance the body. The orthotic also can include a lift to even out the legs and help relieve back pain.
While it is important to seek treatment with a back specialist to evaluate and treat any primary cause of back pain, it is also important to remember that a podiatrist in can help devise methods to relieve the pressure your feet may be placing on your spine, and this is an important adjunct to treatment of back pain. A podiatrist can evaluate your feet and recommend shoe modifications and other treatments that can take the pressure off specific areas of the spine. If the spine is the foundation for the rest of the body, your feet are the foundation for your spine.
About the Author:
Dr. Ernest Isaacson is a foot and ankle doctor in Murray Hill, Manhattan NYC. As an an expert in foot health, he can help you understand the possible relationship between your back pain and your feet and can provide special treatment to alleviate your pain. His mission is to provide the knowledge you need to really understand your condition, as well as a comfort and convenient setting for you to heal.
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