Back Pain

Back Pain

Nealy 80% of Americans suffer from some type of back pain during their lives. Back pain comes in many forms and can be attributed to a myriad of symptoms. Some may be due to muscular, nerve, degenerative, arthritic, or skeletal problems. With back pain being such a general term there are also a great number of treatment methods to help alleviate back pain.

Back Pain can even be associated with maladies of the foot. Pain in the lower back is usually caused by overpronation of the foot or improper posture. Moving about awkwardly during the day and the shock to the foot of walking or standing improperly can contribute to excruciating back pain.

Most back pain caused resulting from foot conditions will be experienced in the lumbar region of the spine. This occurs when the heel strikes the ground and shock waves travel up the legs into the lumbar region. Under normal circumstances this is usually not an issue but if the foot and ankle are for some reason out of alignment this can be a real problem.

For minor back pain due to over exertion over the counter medications might do a good job reducing inflammation and relieving pain. For chronic issues it is a good idea to seek medical advice. A podiatrist may prescribe custom foot orthotics or recommend certain arch supports or insoles.

The idea behind using orthoses to correct back pain is a simple one. Orthotics bring the entire foot in line with the ankle, lower leg, knee, hip and back. Foot orthotics specially designed to reduce shock and absorb impact will cushion each step and keep the shock from traveling up through the legs.

It is not necessary to visit a foot doctor to obtain orthotic devices but be sure to purchase something made from a 3-D mold of your own feet. Drugstore devices cannot provide all the benefits of a true custom fit orthotic and may cause further pain and discomfort.