Beyond Your Feet: How Custom Orthotics Can Help Alleviate Back, Hip, and Knee Pain

Runners know that the state of your feet can affect your knees. It’s why marathon and triathlon trainers warn against running in worn-out shoes: You run the risk of developing a runner's knee. But the reality is that chronic back, hip, and knee pain can signal an alignment problem with your feet, regardless of whether you’re a runner or not. 

If our expert team of doctors at Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County determines that alignment issues with your feet are the source of your back, hip, or knee pain, we may recommend custom orthotics to deliver extra support and realignment. 

Here’s what you need to know about orthotics and how they go beyond foot pain to alleviate your back, hip, and knee pain.

Head, shoulders, knees, and… kinetic chain

The kinetic chain refers to how the human body moves, and in particular, how each move you make affects nearby bones, muscles, tendons, etc. 

Let’s consider an example: You take a step forward with your left leg. This tiny step forward causes your pelvis to rotate forward on the left side and backward on the right. Because your trunk is connected to your pelvis, your trunk moves forward automatically. Now your spine turns toward your left leg. It’s all connected.

What does this have to do with your feet? Your feet are the first link in the kinetic chain, so if your feet aren’t functioning quite right, every other link in the kinetic chain ーyour ankle, knee, hip, and back ー can be compromised. This is called kinetic chain dysfunction. 

Foot conditions that affect your kinetic chain

There are several different foot conditions that knock your kinetic chain off-kilter, causing alignment issues and chronic pain in various joints in your body. For example, if you have bunions, you may alter your gait to help alleviate pain and pressure on your feet. This can affect the whole chain, adding pressure to other joints and causing pain. 

During your comprehensive exam, your Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County provider looks for signs of conditions that can throw your alignment off base. This includes bunions, bursitis, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, pronation, and supination.

How custom orthotics can alleviate back, hip, and knee pain

Custom orthotics are more than just extra padding in your shoes. They are designed for you based on impressions of your feet, and they fall into two categories: accommodative or functional orthotics. The former provides cushion and support exactly where you need it, while the latter can help correct underlying issues by correcting abnormal foot motion. 

Both types of orthotics reduce ankle, back, hip, and knee pain by treating the root cause of any misalignment in your feet. For example, if you have plantar fasciitis, you may change the way you walk. This altered gait then affects the alignment of your ankle, which affects your knee, which then affects your hips. Orthotics target the root problem.

How do you know if orthotics are right for you?

Not all sources of back, hip, or knee pain can be blamed on your feet, and that’s exactly why we’re here. During our exam, we’re prepared to get you fitted with custom orthotics if that’s the right solution for you. But if custom orthotics aren’t right for you, we can guide you with your next steps whether that’s physical therapy, braces, or even minimally invasive surgery. In some cases, you might find that multiple solutions, such as physical therapy and orthotics, provide you with the relief you need.

Get to the bottom of your joint pain and find out if custom orthotics are right for you. Call the location closest to you 一 Bloomfield Hills or Clarkson, Michigan 一 to schedule your appointment.You can also call us at 248-335-2977 or text us at 248-955-2622.