Did you know that prolonged foot pain can lead to persistent discomfort throughout your body? Your feet are your foundation, so maintaining healthy feet plays a significant role in your overall well-being. More specifically, they are the start of your kinetic chain, the interconnected system of your joints and muscles that work together to enable movement.
When part of the chain, especially your feet, are misaligned or in pain, it can cause a ripple effect throughout your body, leading to joint pain and other discomforts. Proper foot alignment is crucial for maintaining overall body health and preventing pain in other areas.
In this article, we will explore some surprising ways your feet may be causing pain throughout your body and how addressing these issues can improve your overall well-being.
3 Signs Your Foot Pain is Impacting Your Body
By understanding the critical importance of foot health in your overall physical well-being, you can take steps to alleviate discomfort and improve your quality of life. “Everything is connected,” Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and Chief Medical Officer of The Good Feet Store, explains in the video above. “Oftentimes people with low back pain, knee pain, or hip pain don’t even recognize that it’s actually coming from the poor support they have in their feet.”
Here are some ways foot pain can be affecting you.
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Overpronation and Underpronation: This is where the feet roll inwards or outwards while walking or running, which can cause the hips to shift in the same direction. While this can sometimes be unavoidable for people, often it occurs as an attempt to accommodate foot pain.
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Inflammation: As we introduce new exercise routines, walk along new terrain or strain our feet, plantar fasciitis— inflammation of the tissue connecting the heel to the toes, often caused by overuse or poor support— can lead to excruciating pain in your feet. This pain most often can’t resolve on its own and feels intense with first morning steps.
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Joint and Muscle Strain: Foot conditions affect back, hip, and knee pain by altering your walking pattern, putting strain on the above-mentioned joints. This strain or stress can cause an overcompensation and thus misalignment and more inflammation and pain. Proper spine alignment is key to preventing and alleviating back pain which once again stems from the feet.
Jake Greczek, RN, BSN, a Neuro Surgical Nurse and a member of The Good Feet Store’s esteemed medical ambassador group, explains, “Part of good posture is decreasing your back pain and knee pain.” Understanding these connections underscores the importance of addressing foot pain promptly and effectively to maintain overall well-being and posture alignment.
Understanding Specific Foot Pain
The first step in finding a solution is determining the root cause of the foot pain. Dr. Mehta, emphasizes this, stating, “The feet are more complex than we think— 26 bones, 30 ligaments, and 4 arches. With time and use, our ligaments and our bones can get out of alignment.”
Foot pain can manifest in various ways, from sharp, stabbing sensations to dull, persistent aches. Whether you’re experiencing plantar fasciitis, bunions, or heel spurs, understanding the specific nature of your foot pain is the first step toward finding lasting relief. Dr. Mehta says, “Your feet are the pillars to your entire body, so you have to keep them supported.”
Lifestyle choices and daily activities can have a significant impact on our foot health. As a nurse— an occupation that requires standing all day— and an avid hiker, Nurse Greczek personally understands the impact your lifestyle has, “Pressure on your feet from standing, running, or walking affects us all differently but it all hurts our feet over time.” Without proper support, active lifestyles can cause foot pain that is felt through the entire kinetic chain, making it difficult to stay active.
By understanding the intricacies of your foot pain, personalized solutions can provide the support and comfort you need to keep moving with confidence.
Live the Life You Love, Two Feet at a Time
Unfortunate pain impacts a person’s quality of life and while there are temporary solutions, it is important to address the root of the problem. Our bodies want to heal, so we must access the tools needed to successfully do so. Dr. Mehta also emphasizes the significance of using solutions as preventative measures, explaining that “Anyone who uses their feet needs support. Don’t wait until you’re in pain.”
Good Feet Arch Supports are engineered to support all four arches of the foot, positioning the feet optimally and aligning the body from the feet up. These personalized arch supports ensure that your feet receive the care they need and crave, providing unmatched support and comfort.
Make an appointment on The Good Feet Store location finder page and learn how you can achieve lasting foot health to alleviate pain felt throughout the body.
