Table of Contents:
Introduction
Millions of people all over the world suffer from lower back pain. In fact, most have had this issue at some point in their lives. While there are different factors that can contribute to this condition, some of the more common ones include poor body posture, extra stress on the spine, and poor alignment of the foot.
Think about it – whenever you stand, walk, or run, the entire weight of the body rests on the feet. When viewed this way, you can begin to see how any misalignment or imbalance in this foundation is capable of affecting the body’s posture and possibly the spine, leading to lower back pain.
Given this, fixing foot-related issues is an important step towards alleviating lower back pain. First, let’s look at some foot conditions and how they can cause back pain
How Foot Conditions Cause Lower Back Pain
There are quite a number of foot conditions that can cause lower back pain but here are the most common:
Flat Feet (Pes Planus)
Flat feet is a condition in which the arch of the feet is underdeveloped or collapsed. This results in overpronation, a situation where the feet roll inward when you stand or walk.
When this happens, the body goes out of alignment, causing the pelvis to shift into an unnatural position. This can then change the natural curve of the lower spine. When the body repeatedly finds itself in this position, excessive strain is exerted on the muscles and ligaments of the lower back, resulting in the pain that you feel.
High Arches (Pes Cavus)
Whereas in flat feet the arch is fallen, in high arches, the arch is higher than normal. This leads to supination (the opposite of overpronation), where the feet roll outward.
This outward roll reduces the feet's ability to effectively absorb impact shock. As a result, every footstep will send shockwaves up the spine through the legs. It will also affect your natural gait, forcing the lower back and hips to try to compensate for it. It is this continued attempt at compensatory motion and the increased pressure from the impact shock that leads to lower back pain.
Plantar Fasciitis
When the plantar fascia, the band of tissue connecting the heel to the toes, is over-used or exposed to extended repetitive strain, it can get inflamed or have micro tears. This presents as pains in the heel and is known as plantar fasciitis.
As a result of the pain in the heels, the affected person will avoid putting the weight of the body on the heel. This will in turn change the natural gait of the body, causing an imbalance which will then necessitate compensatory responses from the other parts. This compensatory response increases the strain on the knees, hips, and lower back leading to lower back pain.
Best Insole for Lower Back Pain: Stride Soles
An insole is a removable layer of material that is placed inside the shoe to provide support, balance, and comfort. They are also known as inserts or orthotics and can be designed to address specific foot conditions such as the ones we’ve discussed above.
Arch Support
Stride Soles provides the perfect arch support for any type of arch inadequacy. For low arch to medium arches, it uses a firm TPU base which mimics the shape of the natural arch, forcing the foot to shape around it. This prevents overpronation and the need for compensatory responses that lead to lower back pain.
In the case of high arches, the high-rebound foam at the core of the insoles closes up the extra space created by the high arch. This provides balance and eliminates supination.
Shock Absorption
Every Stride Soles’ insole features a high-rebound foam at its core. This foam effectively cushions impact shocks, reducing the strain on the heels which would have been transferred to the knees and spine causing lower back pain. As already explained above, this effective shock absorption addresses the primary symptoms of high arches by filling the void left by the high arch.
Proper Foot and Ankle Alignment
The rigid TPU shell case that Stride Soles uses ensures that the heel is properly stabilized. This positions the ankle at an angle that correctly aligns it with the rest of the foot. This correct alignment eliminates the risk of overpronation or supination. It also means that there will be no need for the compensatory movements that lead to lower back pain.
Heel Stabilization
The heel is the first point that makes contact with the floor when you walk or run. If this part lacks stability, side-to-side motion could ensue, resulting in imbalance. Stride Soles uses a rigid TPU shell to provide this stability, holding the heel in place so that the foot will move smoothly. This ensures that there is no imbalance that will require compensatory movements which could eventually lead to lower back pains.
Enhanced Gait and Balance
When there's any form of imbalance resulting from any foot condition, the gait of the body will change. This can show as swaying, limping, or even dragging. As the pelvis and other parts try to compensate for this imbalance, there will be increased stress and fatigue which can then lead to lower back pains among other things.
Stride Soles' custom insoles feature a supportive deep heel cup that stabilizes the heels, ensuring proper balance. It also includes a rigid TPU base which provides adequate arch support while the high-rebound foam provides sufficient shock absorption and increased comfort.
The result is a properly normalized foot position that restores proper gait and eliminates the risk of lower back pain.
How to Choose the Right Stride Soles Insoles
Stride Soles has revolutionized the process of ordering custom orthotics. For a long time, orthotics ordered online was grouped in the same class as OTC purchases. However, with companies like Stride Soles offering custom orthotics online, this classification is no longer correct.
Choosing the right insole with Stride Soles is straightforward and costs way less than what some other brands will charge. Getting your custom insoles from Stride Soles involves the following steps:
Step 1 – Take a Short Quiz
You will be asked a series of questions to help the podiatrist understand where you feel the pain or discomfort. This is the first step towards identifying the underlying cause of the foot condition.
Step 2 – Scan Your Feet
Next, you will be required to scan the sole of your foot. This provides a 3D image which will provide additional information that will help the podiatrist determine what exactly is going on.
Step 3 – Record Yourself
You will be required to record yourself as you walk towards your phone camera. This is for gait analysis which is an important aspect of this process as it shows your gait while walking. This analysis can show when there is a problem with your balance and posture.
With these three assessment points correctly captured, the experts at Stride Soles can easily determine what the issue is and then create custom orthotics that will address whatever foot condition might have caused the lower back pain.
Conclusion
When it comes to lower back pain that can be caused by foot-related conditions, you do not have the luxury of trying out different products. You want the right product right off the bat which is why custom orthotics come highly recommended.
With the level of customization that Stride Soles offers, and the cost at which they offer their products, you will be hard-pressed to find a better alternative out there. Visit Stride Soles today to begin the process of getting your own custom insoles.
