Misaligned feet can be the first step leading to a chain of pain flowing to the knees, leg muscles, and the lower back over time. Your long-term mobility risks increase due to how these other parts must overcompensate for this poor foot support, causing joint damage and chronic pain.
According to a 2018 study for Gerontology by Awale, Hagedorn, Dufour, et al., planus foot posture (flat feet) produced a 78% higher chance of falls in patients. While issues like flat feet may not be cured or prevented due to genetics, orthodontics and physical therapy can provide strength and support. Other misalignment issues can be prevented by following foot health tips, from weight management to posture.
What Is the Side Effect of Misaligned Feet?
The impact of foot misalignment begins with balance issues, which can increase the likelihood of falls, especially in seniors. A bad fall can cause other devastating injuries, from broken bones to head trauma.
Foot physical stress works its way to the knees, hips, and lower back, which can create debilitating knee and hip pain from poor weight distribution when walking and standing. Poor foot misalignment can also cause permanent foot deformity, including:
- Hammertoes
- Bunions
- Severely collapsed arches
As your lower extremities work overtime, your leg and back muscles work harder, which can lead to exhaustion and make regular activities increasingly harder.
What Are Some Mobility Preservation Strategies?
You don't have to live with misaligned feet if you get intervention in time. A visit to your trusted NYC podiatrist at Chelsea Foot & Ankle provides a range of solutions, including:
- Bunion or tendon surgery
- Ganglion cyst removal
- Sports medicine therapy
- Specialized care for diabetic feet
- Orthotics fittings
- Shockwave therapy
More than half of people aren't wearing shoes to correctly accommodate the width and length of their feet, which further exacerbates existing misalignment. Custom orthotics are specialized inserts that your podiatrist can prescribe after examining your gait and diagnosing foot issues.
You can also incorporate daily exercises like:
- Toe spreading
- Marble pick-up
- Calf stretches
- Ankle rainbows
Your feet and lower back are the foundation for supporting most of your body weight, so maintaining a healthy body weight is essential to relieving some pressure. Therefore, if you're already at a high BMI, the onset of foot problems is a signal to adjust your diet and try to be as active as your condition allows.
Make Healthy Feet a Priority for Ongoing Mobility
You may be genetically predisposed to misaligned feet, like flat feet, or have later onset conditions, from hammertoes to bunions. The strain will eventually gravitate upwards as far as your back, creating pain and balance problems.
However, managing your weight, doing proper exercises, and consulting a specialist are some steps to take to avoid ongoing problems. You may handle the condition with ongoing therapy, or you may need surgery to correct more extreme issues.
The earlier you start preventing foot problems, the more stable your body can be as you age.
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This article was prepared by an independent contributor and helps us continue to deliver quality news and information.
