It's all about the Foot

Resolving Foot Problems for Good Health

Often overlooked in rehabilitating and relieving body pain is the benefit of resolving foot problems. Resolving foot problems cures body pain, because its mechanics effect the entire body as a kinetic chain.  When the foot hits the ground, it is designed to collapse, let's call this pronation.  Pronation is the body's natural shock absorber.  Often pronation gets a bad reputation because everybody has a unique arch type and some people who are over-pronaters can suffer from many injuries.  However, pronation is an important and necessary motion and just the right amount is the key.  Let's talk a bit about how pronation effects the entire body.

When the foot hits the ground, it should pronate. Pronation causes the arch to collapse which then drives the entire leg into internal rotation.  This internal rotation is the key to unlock muscle activation all the way up to the hip.  This muscle activation is designed to absorb the forces of the body slamming into the ground (3-5 times your body weight).  Without pronation, force transmission is increased throughout the entire body, including the spine.  On one hand with too much pronation the internal rotation is increased in the lower leg and muscles can become overused or overstressed and inflamed. With too little pronation muscles in the lower leg can become tight and short, creating problems in other areas of the body, mainly the lower back and shoulder.

The point is, when a patient walks into the door with lower back pain, hip pain, knee pain, even shoulder pain, it is always beneficial to look at what is going on in their feet.  I always say it's the chicken or the egg debate when it comes to foot and the body's other dysfunctions.  It's more times than not a foot problem.

Andrew Gorecki, PT, DPT, FAFS

If you are having foot problems and need answers, check out our FREE Plantar Fasciitis & Foot Pain Relief Workshop. We'll give you the answers. Get more info and register by clicking here https://www.thesuperiortherapy.com/foot-pain-relief-workshop, or by calling 231.944.6541.

Check out more on how the feet work here: Feet: How Your Feet Work - And Three Steps For Keeping Them Healthy - Harvard Health Publications - Harvard Health