Did you know that good foot health is essential for active health? After all, your feet support your entire body, providing balance, posture and wellbeing. However, foot-related problems are some of the most common problems people face. So, how do your feet affect your whole body?
How do foot conditions impact other parts of your body?
Foot conditions and complaints can cause mobility problems and impact your quality of life. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the ways that foot problems, injuries or illness can affect the body.
- Knee and Back Pain: This may result from foot alignment issues, deformity or sports-related injuries. For instance, conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and tendonitis can cause you to change your walking pattern. This, in turn, can affect your posture and gait, putting stress on your body.
- Joint Pain: This may be from flat feet. This is where the feet don’t have enough arch support to absorb the shock or normal activities, such as walking, running and standing. Having flat feet can put extra strain on your joints.
- Lower Limb (Leg) Pain and Muscle Weakness: This can occur from incorrect posture and foot balance. Impinged nerves can cause referred pain down the legs.
- Poor Posture: This can be the result of an imbalance from your feet. If your feet aren’t aligned correctly then the rest of the body will be off-balance. If the foundations of a structure aren’t stable, then the upper structure is likely to experience problems.
- Skin Conditions: Athlete’s Foot fungal infection can spread to other areas of the body such as the toenails and groin.
What do your feet say about your health?
You would be surprised to know that there are a number of health conditions that relate to your feet. Here is a list of some of these conditions:
- Foot Cramps – may be a sign of dehydration.
- Swollen Feet – may be a sign of high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Tingling Feet – may be a sign of a trapped nerve somewhere in the body.
- Cold Feet – may indicate a circulatory problem.
As you will have read your feet are an important part of your overall health. It is wise to check your feet regularly, note any signs of foot pain or any symptoms mentioned. Do not ignore foot pain – it’s a warning that something is wrong.
If you have any Foot Health concerns, schedule an appointment with our clinicians at one of our clinics in Beeston, Nottingham or Ilkeston, Derby, who can recommend a treatment plan to keep you and your feet healthy and pain-free.