and What You Can Do About It
When it comes to back pain, most people look to their posture, desk setup, or stress levels, and those are important.
But here’s what often gets overlooked:
Your feet might be the hidden cause of your back problems.
Sounds surprising, right?
But your feet are the foundation of your body. And when that foundation is off, it can create a chain reaction, affecting your ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, spine… and yes, your back.
Let’s explore how foot posture impacts spinal alignment, what signs to watch for, and how chiropractic care can help.
The Body is a Kinetic Chain
Think of your body like a stacked tower. Your feet are the base, and your spine is near the top.
If the base is uneven or unstable, everything above it has to adapt to stay upright.
So when your foot posture is off, for example, if you overpronate (flattened arches) or supinate (high, rigid arches), your knees rotate inward or outward, which affects your hip and pelvic alignment and ultimately your spinal posture.
Common Foot Posture Problems That Affect the Back
1. Overpronation (Flat Feet)
- Causes the ankles to roll inward
- Pulls the knees and hips out of alignment
- Increases strain on the lower back and sacroiliac joints
2. Supination (High Arches)
- Limits shock absorption
- Increases the impact forces on the spine during walking or running
- Leads to stiffness and tension in the kinetic chain
3. Leg Length Discrepancy
- Even slight differences can cause pelvic tilting
- Leads to uneven loading of the spine and compensatory muscle imbalances
According to a study published in Gait & Posture, foot posture and walking mechanics significantly influence spinal alignment and the development of chronic low back pain.
Read the study
What This Means for Back Pain
If you’re dealing with:
- Lower back pain
- Hip or sacroiliac joint issues
- Persistent pelvic imbalances
- Spinal stiffness that keeps returning…
…it may not just be a spinal issue.
Your feet could be silently affecting everything above them.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
At Northbridge Chiropractic, we take a whole-body approach. We don’t just look at the spine in isolation, we assess posture from the ground up.
Here’s how we support clients with foot-spine imbalances:
✔️ Postural & Gait Analysis
We check how you walk, stand, and move, identifying signs of arch collapse, asymmetries, or overcompensation patterns.
✔️ Customised Chiropractic Adjustments
Realigning the pelvis and spine helps reduce strain from uneven foot mechanics and improves nervous system communication.
✔️ Mobility & Strength Work
We often recommend corrective exercises to strengthen weak foot muscles, calves, glutes, and core, restoring better movement patterns.
✔️ Referral for Custom Orthotics (When Needed)
Some clients benefit from custom orthotics that support healthy arch function and correct alignment from the ground up.
Research in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients with chronic low back pain showed significant improvement when foot mechanics were addressed alongside chiropractic care.
Read the study
Signs Your Feet Might Be Contributing to Back Pain
- You notice uneven shoe wear
- Your feet tire quickly or feel unstable
- One leg “feels longer,” or you shift weight unevenly
- You’ve been told you have flat feet or high arches
- Your back pain flares up during long walks, standing, or running
In Summary
Your feet are the foundation of your posture.
When that foundation is misaligned, it doesn’t just affect your gait, it can throw your whole spine out of balance.
If you’re managing recurring back issues, don’t stop at the symptoms.
Start with the structure.
Start with the root.
And yes, sometimes that means starting with your feet.
Need Help?
At Northbridge Chiropractic, we assess the entire body from head to toe, so you can move better, feel better, and live pain-free.
Book your postural assessment today, and let’s see what your feet might be saying about your spine.
Resources:
