Feet Are Key

by Kelly Otis, PMA Certified Physical Therapist /Polestar Pilates Certified

Feet effect your posture, movement, and balance.

Often the CORE of mechanical problems of the body leading to chronic pain are your FEET. 

Your feet inform your brain and thereby the entire body. 

Feet affect your posture, movement and balance. In other words, feet affect the entire chain of joints in your body from knees and hips to spine and shoulders. It is crucial to evaluate the feet from the start in physical therapy.

 In order to accommodate the information given by your feet about the surface you are moving on, the brain is continually adjusting the rest of your body. Feet absorb shock and distribute forces in your body when you walk or run on changing surfaces. There are 4 arches in each foot (not only one!) that act like springs for propelling the body forward. Fascia and muscle cushion the surface and create strength and flexibility of the foot. A good assessment of your feet will often influence the success of physical therapy for problems and pain in the rest of the body. So evaluating and treating the mechanics of the feet matter! 

Weight distribution and good joint mobility of the feet reduce stress on the knees, hips and spine above. Feet inform the brain for balance (proprioception) and body position.  Therefore, common feet problems such as bunions, too much supination or pronation, plantar fasciitis or chronic sprains can set off problems working against good alignment and function of the rest of the body. Good manual physical therapy and education can completely change these problems.

Shoes that are trying to accommodate or correct problems in the function of your feet can become problematic as well. Shoes and inserts can wear down or work against mobility and flexibility of the feet causing local pain and gait dysfunction. 

Podiatrists will often prescribe and create orthotics to address foot pain without physical therapy evaluation and treatment. Orthotics are casting systems that can make the problem worse in the long run or cause other joint pains (ie. knees). I have often kept my patients from needing orthotics with manual mobility of the joints of the foot (feet have 33 joints!) and the surrounding soft tissue. Education and rehabilitation of weight distribution and gait to correct feet and accompanying joint problems are a better place to start. Orthotics (or surgery) should be a last resort.

Your feet are complex and key for solving body pain. Poor body mechanics are influenced by foot problems and can lead to the inability to meet your functional and movement goals…but most of all… getting you out of pain! Feet are key.