Pain can have a major impact on our lives, affecting work, leisure and even our mobility.
Even when mild, pain should never be ignored. It’s the body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong and that a solution is needed.
The tendency these days, is to take a pain-killer and hope that the problem goes away. Pain-killers may offer short-term relief, but they’re only treating the symptom not the cause and may even exacerbate the issue. So, for long term relief it’s important to treat the cause of the pain.
The problem with many types of joint pain, including in the back, hips and knees is that where the pain is presenting, is often not where it’s originating.
The ‘culprit’ in many cases, is the foot…
Back pain affects millions of people every day and lower back pain in particular is a major cause of people missing work. Pain in the lower back is often caused by over-pronation of the feet, which occurs when the arch collapses. The solution in such cases is straightforward – custom arch supports (also known as orthotics or orthoses) used with well-constructed footwear. This combination, both parts of which are provided by Foot Solutions, helps stabilise the feet, prevent arch collapse, minimise (or even remove) pain and improve mobility.
Custom arch supports and appropriate footwear also allow the hip joint to function more naturally. Stabilising the feet helps realign the skeletal system and in turn, reduce stress on the hips during walking or running. This has a major positive effect on pain presenting in the thigh, groin and buttocks.
The knee is a highly complex joint, and is very easy injure or strain. Knees rely on the feet for stability. Over-pronation or excessive supination (the outward roll of the foot during normal motion) in the feet can affect the position of the ankle, and lead to knee pain. Again, custom arch supports worn with good orthotic-friendly footwear provide foot stability and help maintain the ankle in a neutral position thus reducing pressure and stress on the knee joint.
At Foot Solutions we offer a free foot assessment and gait analysis using hi-tech scanning equipment which can help identify the source of your pain.
Our custom arch supports are moulded to the exact contours of your feet and we offer and extensive range of stylish, comfortable and orthotic-friendly footwear for all occasions.