There are many reasons why people suffer from back pain. The most common ones are sitting for too long, overexertion in a sporting activity and incorrect lifting of heavy loads. But did you ever think that the shoes you wear could be the cause?
Why would the shoes all the way down on your feet affect your back?
There is a concept known as the “kinetic chain” which describes how the body’s joints and muscles are interconnected during movement. Everything from a golf swing to getting out of your car requires a highly coordinated activation of body segments to be accomplished efficiently.
The upper-body kinetic chain starts at the spine and includes our shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists and fingers. The lower-body kinetic chain starts at the spine and travels down to the hips, thighs, legs, knees, ankles, feet and toes.
If you squat down, for example, coordinated bending must occur simultaneously in the ankles, knees and hips in order for you to maintain your balance. If you have limited mobility in any one of these joints, the movement in the other joints will be altered and increased stress will be placed on them.
Shoes without proper cushioning or support result in unnatural movement, stressing muscles and joints all the way along that kinetic chain.
Shoes with inadequate arch support can cause the foot to roll inward or outward resulting in a misalignment of the spine and back pain.
High heels change your posture by tilting your pelvis forward. This increases the curve of your lumbar spine over time, causing back pain. Choose shoes with heels of less than two inches to maintain proper pelvic alignment.
Get Expert Spinal Care in Kanata
If you have any questions about the health or alignment of your spine or that of your loved ones, Dr. Erin McLaughlin and Dr. Pierre Paradis are here to help. If you live or work in Kanata and the surrounding area, contact us today or give us a call at (613) 831-9665.