Connecting Your Foot Pain To Your Back

Different parts of your body are connected through what is referred to as your kinetic chain. This means that motion (kinetics) is contingent upon a coordination of efforts - upon a chain. There are very important and distinct fascial connections between different parts of the body. For example, the lumbosacral fascia connects structures of the left hip to the right shoulder by way of the thoracolumbar fascia. Your body truly is like a well-oiled machine, but when one part is damaged or undergoing stress, it can affect the rest of you as well. But, one can also harness the power of this fact and use it to heal various maladies.

The term “kinetic chain” was originally an engineering concept that describes the force one object has on another when they’re a part of a fixed system of overlapping segments and joints. If one segment is impacted, this energy or force is transferred to other aspects of the chain. This means that each body part has what we call a ‘regional interdependence.’

This term was later used to describe the human body and how our various muscles, joints, bones, and other connective tissue work together, allowing you to move and perform activities everyday.

If there’s something that prevents you from using a certain part of this kinetic chain, it can either place further stress, tension, or limitations other elements of the chain.

This means fascial tightness, fractures, tendonitis, or anything else that can cause pain in your feet can also lead to pain or overcompensation throughout the rest of your body. That tight heel cord can create tension all the way up to your back. In fact, dissections and anatomic studies have shown a direct connection from fascia to fascia starting at the plantar fascia and ending at the occiput (base of the skull).

This is why activities like yoga are particularly helpful in stretching and alleviating tension throughout the entire body. Yoga utilizes features of connection and balance in each asana (pose). This ensures a sort of ‘total body rehab’ with each move.

An easy way to feel the effects of your kinetic chain is to try to touch your toes. Make a note of how far you’re able to reach without bending your knees. Then, roll and massage the bottom of your foot with a tennis ball or something similar. Try to touch your toes again.

More than likely, you’ll notice you can go just a little bit deeper on that stretch. That’s because as your heel cord loosened, there was less tension on your hamstrings as well. This ‘release’ then propagated upward to the lower back.

Connecting Your Foot Pain To Your Back

The Healing Sole is a great way to stretch and relieve tension in your plantar fascia, providing relief for your entire kinetic chain.

That’s because The Healing Sole is more than just a flip flop - it’s designed by a foot and ankle surgeon to be a recovery and strengthening device you can use in the comfort of your own home.

The rocker bottom sole works with each step to stretch your foot and to decouple stress and strain from stance and ambulation, while other elements like the raised arch support, compressible inner heel, and non-compressible outer heel alleviate pressure at key pain points on the foot.

So, if you’re interested in recovering and relieving pain while working with your body’s natural kinetic chain, look no further than The Healing Sole.

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