When patients visit Expert Pain in Houston, Texas, for chronic lower back pain, they’re often surprised when Ioannis Skaribas, MD, DABA, FASA, starts by looking at their feet.
The body is a connected system. Your feet are your foundation. When that foundation is unstable, misaligned, or painful, it changes how you stand, walk, and distribute weight. That stress often travels upward to the knees, hips, and lower back.
April is Foot Health Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to explain how common foot problems can contribute to or worsen lower back pain.
Flat feet occur when your arches collapse or don’t develop properly. Without proper arch support, your ankles roll inward, which alters your leg alignment and pelvic positioning.
Over time, this can increase strain on your lumbar spine, tighten your hip flexors and hamstrings, and create uneven weight distribution.
As a result, you develop chronic lower back discomfort that doesn’t fully resolve with back-focused treatments alone.
While flat feet lack support, high arches can be overly rigid and poor at absorbing shock.
Each step sends more force up through the joints, increasing pressure on:
This repetitive impact can aggravate existing back pain or contribute to new pain over time.
Plantar fasciitis results when you have inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot. You typically feel sharp, stabbing heel pain that’s worse with the first steps in the morning or after long periods of sitting, and may improve slightly with movement but return after prolonged standing or activity.
To avoid this discomfort, you may subconsciously change the way you walk. That altered gait may lead to muscle imbalances, pelvic tilt, and compensatory lower back strain.
Even mild changes in walking mechanics can have significant effects on your spine over time.
Sometimes a structural or functional difference in leg length results from foot mechanics. When one foot collapses more than the other, it can create the appearance of a shorter leg.
This imbalance may cause uneven hips, spinal curvature stress, and chronic one-sided lower back pain.
Identifying and correcting the underlying foot issue can significantly improve your symptoms.
Worn-out shoes, inadequate arch support, or high heels can all contribute to abnormal posture and gait.
High heels may look stylish, but they shift your weight forward, increase your lumbar curve, and tighten your lower back muscles.
Over time, improper footwear alone can aggravate chronic back pain.
If you’re receiving injections, physical therapy, or medications for lower back pain but not seeing full relief, the root cause may be biomechanical.
In pain management, Dr. Skaribas considers factors beyond the source of pain. He provides a customized plan that could address your feet, including:
These treatments can reduce strain on the lumbar spine and improve overall outcomes.
Consider scheduling an appointment at Expert Pain if you have chronic lower back pain that hasn’t improved. You may also benefit if you:
A thorough assessment can help identify whether your feet are contributing to your symptoms.
Your lower back doesn’t function in isolation. Small imbalances at your foundation – the feet – can create larger problems higher up. By addressing foot mechanics, Dr. Skaribas can often reduce spinal strain and help you move more comfortably and confidently.
If chronic back pain is limiting your daily activities, contact us here at Expert Pain today to schedule an appointment.
