The biomechanics of the low back are intimately linked to the biomechanics of the foot, leg, and pelvis. Inequality of the length of the legs is a common cause of low back pain.Ī pelvis that is not level is a common cause of low back pain. 2009 30(2):257-9.The Foot, The Leg, The Pelvis, And Back Painįoot problems are a common cause of low back pain. Yavuz M, Hetherington VJ, Botek G, Hirschman GB, Bardsley L, Davis BL: Forefoot plantar shear stress distribution in hallux valgus patients. Williams, DS, McClay, IS, Hamill, J: Arch structure and injury patterns in runners. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1993.
Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction:The Trigger Point Manual.
Plank M: The pattern of forefoot pressure distribution in hallux valgus. Nix S, Smith M, Vicenzino B: Prevalence of hallux valgus in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Munteanu SE, Menz HB, Wark JD, Christie JJ, Scurrah KJ, Bui M, Erbas B, Hopper JL, Wluka AE: Hallux valgus, by nature or nurture? A twin study. Knowles, FW: Effects of shoes on foot form: An anatomical experiment. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 2009 27:549-54.ĭoxey, GE: Management of metatarsalgia with foot orthotics. Joe Nimble ® functional footwear is based on these concepts and this science.Ĭhou S, Cheng HK, Chen J, Ju Y, Wong MA: The role of the great toe in balance performance. Load the feet with body weight creating the force to stimulate restoration of foot shape and function.
Wear foot-shaped (functional) shoes with space for the toes to spread and the foot to widen and flatten and Ģ. Fortunately, the plasticity that permitted development of shoe-shaped feet also permits restoration of foot structure and therefore foot function (Knowles, 1953). To restore stable foot function, forefoot structure must be restored. Trigger point pain in the lower legs, upper legs, hips and even the torso head and neck are also common as the body strives to compensate for the unstable foot (Travell and Simons, 1993). Those with the first footprint commonly suffer knee injuries, those with the second suffer stress fractures and ankle sprains (Williams, McClay and Hamill, 2001).
Travell and simons foot series#
The final post of this series will show how a simple footprint, and the pressure patterns it captures, can reveal both functional issues and the compromised forefoot structure that causes them.įootprint of the ‘decompensated’ shoe-shaped foot.Ĭharacterised by a shoe-shaped forefoot structure, the ‘roll in’ function is revealed as high pressure on the medial border of the first metatarsal head and big toe (Doxey, 1985, fig 5).įootprint of the ‘compensated’ shoe-shaped foot.Ĭharacterised by a shoe-shaped forefoot structure, the ‘roll out’ function is revealed as high-pressure on the lateral and medial metatarsal heads (Doxey, 1985, fig 5). Parts one to three of this series highlighted that structural deformities of the forefoot (shoe-shaped feet) are common (Nix et al., 2010) and are caused by time in shoe-shaped shoes (Munteanu et al., 2017), and that structurally compromised feet are unstable and either roll in or roll out when loaded with bodyweight (Yavuz et al., 2009 Chou et al., 2009 Plank, 1995). “A compromised foot structure is a major perpetuating factor in chronic musculoskeletal pain throughout the body”