When your back hurts, your feet probably aren't the first thing you think about. But the way your feet support and move your body can affect your ankles, knees, hips, and lower back.
For some people, changes in foot mechanics may contribute to back pain, stiffness, or discomfort when standing and walking. If you've been treating your back pain without getting the relief you're looking for, it may be worth taking a closer look at what's happening below.
At Cūro Chiropractic, we look at how your feet, posture, and body move together to better understand what's contributing to your discomfort. For some patients, custom orthotics in Calgary may be one part of a personalized care plan.
Each foot is made up of roughly 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Together, they help you stay balanced, absorb shock, and move comfortably with every step.
That is a lot of moving parts and they all work together. When one part of your lower body is not moving or lining up as it should, it can affect how the rest of your body moves.
You may notice this through:
• Changes in how your feet hit the ground when you walk
• Extra stress through your ankles and knees
• Changes in how your hips and pelvis move
• Added strain on your lower back or spine
• Discomfort that seems to come from somewhere other than your feet
That is why a biomechanical foot analysis looks at more than just your feet.
At Cūro, our custom orthotics assessments look at:
• Your gait: how your feet and legs move as you walk
• Your posture: how your body is positioned when standing and moving
• Your overall movement: how your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine work together
Looking at the full picture can help identify how your feet may be affecting the way you move and provide a better starting point for supporting comfortable, balanced movement.
Many patients visit our clinic with ongoing lower back pain and don't realize their feet may be contributing to the problem. Rather than focusing only on where you feel the pain, chiropractic care and a foot-focused assessment can help look at how different parts of your body are working together.
You may want to consider a foot and movement assessment if you notice:
• Knee pain or discomfort
• Tightness through your hips
• Lower back pain after standing or walking
• Foot or heel pain that affects the way you move
Rather than focusing only on where you feel the pain, chiropractic care and a foot-focused assessment can help look at how different parts of your body are working together.
Custom orthotics are designed around your feet and the way you move, rather than providing generic support. Orthotics may also be part of a broader care plan that includes chiropractic care, appropriate footwear, exercise, and guidance for everyday activities.
At our SW Calgary clinic near Marda Loop, your assessment includes:
• 3D foot scanning to capture the shape and structure of your feet
• A gait assessment to see how your feet move when you walk
• A personalized review of your posture, movement, and areas of discomfort
• Custom fabrication through Footmaxx based on your individual assessment
Depending on your needs, custom orthotics may help:
• Redistribute pressure through your feet
• Provide targeted support
• Encourage more comfortable movement
• Support your knees, hips, and lower back
• Reduce strain associated with certain foot mechanics
It can contribute to it. Your feet, knees, hips, and spine work as a connected chain, so a shift in foot alignment can change how force and pressure travel through the rest of your body. Over time, this may lead to compensation patterns that show up as lower back discomfort. A custom orthotics assessment can help determine whether this is a factor for you.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the more common concerns custom orthotics are designed to support. By improving pressure distribution and offering targeted arch and heel support, orthotics can help reduce strain on the plantar fascia alongside appropriate chiropractic care.
The best way to know is through a proper assessment. Our team evaluates your gait, foot structure, and overall alignment, along with your activity levels and any current pain, to determine whether custom orthotics are appropriate for your situation.
Many extended health benefit plans include coverage for custom orthotics when prescribed by a regulated healthcare provider such as a chiropractor. We recommend checking your specific plan, and our team can provide the documentation you need for reimbursement.
Back pain can have many causes, and your feet may be one piece of the puzzle schedule online today to book your assessment at Cūro Chiropractic our team can help you understand what your body is telling you.
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