Flat feet and back pain

The normal human foot has an arch. This arch provides support and stability to the body. It also acts as a shock absorber when walking, running and jumping.

So what happens if your arches are too low? Flat feet can be genetic – the way your bones form in childhood as they grew – or a result of injury to the foot, commonly to the ligaments that attach the various bones together.

People with flat feet may experience no complications. Others may suffer multiple problems, including back pain. It is likely that you will also have foot pain, particularly around where the arch is meant to be. You may find it difficult to stand on your toes or move your heel properly. You might also find that your foot often swells around the ankle. The pain you feel may limit physical exercise and sporting activities.

Any back pain you feel is down to the fact that your feet aren’t providing the right level of stability to your upper body. This means that your back muscles are having to work extra hard to compensate.

This pain is most likely to occur when you are standing, walking or running and you will find that it eases when your body is at rest.

Other ailments than can occur because of flat feet include:

• Shin splints – inflammation in the shinbone from overuse during running without proper form of foot
  
• Bunions – people with flat feet often walk with an unnatural pressure on the joint at the base of the big toe, this then can turn inwards.
  
• Tendinitis – tendinitis from flat foot often affects the Achilles tendon due to increased stress placed on the heel and ankle
  
• Hammertoe – people with flat feet often have weak foot muscles, which may cause hammertoe – a toe with a claw-like appearance – to develop
  
• Calluses – friction from rubbing the inside of the shoe can cause calluses to occur
  
• Lower extremity pain, due to the compensation required by the body to compensate for flat feet, you can develop pain to the ankle, knee, hip and pelvis.
  

Therefore it is important that if you have flat feet, you learn how to deal with the condition in order to alleviate back pain and any other associated symptoms.

What can be done?

Unfortunately, unless they are caused by a broken bone or tear in one of the tendons, you are unlikely to be able to have surgery to correct low arches or flat feet. However, there are orthotic devices available such as shoe inserts called Orthotics that can add support, as well as exercise designed to relieve pain in your foot, improve balance and enable you to participate more in physical activities.

Stretching

Certain stretches may help to alleviate the pain of flat feet by targeting the muscles in your legs and back. Stretching those muscles will also strengthen them, giving them additional support and flexibility and therefore, reducing pain and discomfort. For example, simply sitting or standing and arching your back for ten to fifteen seconds each time can really make a difference.

Calf stretches can stretch and strengthen the Achilles tendon (it is believed that flat feet may be the result of a shortened Achilles tendon).

Speak to an osteopath

If you believe you have flat feet and are suffering chronic pain because of them, make sure you speak to a professional osteopath to get the right advice and support. I personally offer Orthotic therapy to help alleviate the associated pain caused.

You can contact Andy Caughey, an Osteopath based in Poole, Dorset