- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Caring for your Spine
Walking and the Back
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Walking and the Back
The Foot
More than one quarter of the bones in the human body can be found in the feet and ankles. Each foot alone contains 30 joints. The structures of each foot structures help to support body weight, propel the body forward and provide foundational support to the spine. There are many disorders of the feet that can contribute to abnormal walking (gait) and subsequent stress upon the low back. For example, arthritis can develop in any one the 30 joints of each foot resulting in pain and shifting posture. During walking the force transmitted to the feet and ankles is approximately three times your body weight. This is one of the reasons it is so important to maintain a healthy body weight.
The Foot and the Spine
The feet are structurally complex comprising approximately one-quarter of the body’s bones. They are the foundation of the body. A foot condition can contribute to the development of problems that afflict the back. By 40 years of age most individuals have acquired a foot condition of some type. Foot problems eventually contribute to biomechanical problems involving joints and muscles of the upper leg and back. Foot problems often contribute to chronic walking (gait) abnormalities that can exacerbate back pain.
The average person takes between 5,000 and 10,000 individual steps during the course of a day. Approximately 3.5 times our body weight passes through the foot 10,000 times per day. This translates to about 25 tons per foot mile. The average person takes about 90-120 steps per minute with the average step length being about 15 inches. The foot absorbs shock and provides postural stability. The foot and toes have numerous specialized nerve endings to provide the brain with feedback that improves the coordination and efficiency of walking. The foot has three arches which
provide support.
Lower Extremity Conditions which may Contribute to Back Pain
There are a number of conditions involving the feet that can have considerable impact on spine health. The more common conditions include leg length inequality (LLI), painful heal spurs, heel pad atrophy, a high arched foot, the numb foot, arch collapse, excessive pronation, forefoot pain (metatarsalgia) and weakness.
Leg Length Inequality: The majority of individuals do not have equal leg length but it does not always led to orthopedic problems. Leg length inequality (LLI) refers to a difference in the length of the legs that may occur secondary to structural or functional differences. Structural LLI is often due to anatomical causes such as unequal bone growth rates, fractures, deformities and degeneration. For example, severe degeneration of the hip and/or knee can contribute to a loss of limb length and result in LLI. LLI does lead to a difference in the stress placed on bones and joint tissues which in some cases can lead to to painfull conditions.
More than one quarter of the bones in the human body can be found in the feet and ankles. Each foot alone contains 30 joints. The structures of each foot structures help to support body weight, propel the body forward and provide foundational support to the spine. There are many disorders of the feet that can contribute to abnormal walking (gait) and subsequent stress upon the low back. For example, arthritis can develop in any one the 30 joints of each foot resulting in pain and shifting posture. During walking the force transmitted to the feet and ankles is approximately three times your body weight. This is one of the reasons it is so important to maintain a healthy body weight.
The Foot and the Spine
The feet are structurally complex comprising approximately one-quarter of the body’s bones. They are the foundation of the body. A foot condition can contribute to the development of problems that afflict the back. By 40 years of age most individuals have acquired a foot condition of some type. Foot problems eventually contribute to biomechanical problems involving joints and muscles of the upper leg and back. Foot problems often contribute to chronic walking (gait) abnormalities that can exacerbate back pain.
The average person takes between 5,000 and 10,000 individual steps during the course of a day. Approximately 3.5 times our body weight passes through the foot 10,000 times per day. This translates to about 25 tons per foot mile. The average person takes about 90-120 steps per minute with the average step length being about 15 inches. The foot absorbs shock and provides postural stability. The foot and toes have numerous specialized nerve endings to provide the brain with feedback that improves the coordination and efficiency of walking. The foot has three arches which
provide support.
Lower Extremity Conditions which may Contribute to Back Pain
There are a number of conditions involving the feet that can have considerable impact on spine health. The more common conditions include leg length inequality (LLI), painful heal spurs, heel pad atrophy, a high arched foot, the numb foot, arch collapse, excessive pronation, forefoot pain (metatarsalgia) and weakness.
Leg Length Inequality: The majority of individuals do not have equal leg length but it does not always led to orthopedic problems. Leg length inequality (LLI) refers to a difference in the length of the legs that may occur secondary to structural or functional differences. Structural LLI is often due to anatomical causes such as unequal bone growth rates, fractures, deformities and degeneration. For example, severe degeneration of the hip and/or knee can contribute to a loss of limb length and result in LLI. LLI does lead to a difference in the stress placed on bones and joint tissues which in some cases can lead to to painfull conditions.
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