Back, Hip and Knee Pain
Many people have chronic, lingering pain in their hips, knees, low
back, shoulders and neck and that has not responded to traditional
treatment. If you are in this group, there may be a connection between
the pain you are experiencing and the way your feet function.
The knees, back and hips are the areas most often affected by
abnormal foot mechanics or asymmetry in your gait. Below are just a few
examples of the many mechanical abnormalities of the foot that can lead
to pain in other parts of your body:
Knee Pain
The knee is is made to bend only in one direction—with the knee facing
straight forward. When the foot rolls in too much (over-pronates),
however, the leg rotates in toward the opposite leg. This causes the
knee to function while pointing inward. In this position each step you
take will put stress on the knee. If your knee pain is due to your foot
mechanics, orthotics can be a very effective way to relieve your
symptoms.
Back Pain
In a 1999 study of patients with low back pain, gait abnormalities were
detected in all patients. Eighty four percent of the patients studied
experienced improvement with the use of custom foot orthotics. All of
the study participants had not responded to standard treatments which
had included spinal manipulation, physical therapy, therapeutic
injections and/or surgery. 1Dannenber, Guiliano. 1999. Journal of the
American Podiatric Medical Association.
Hip Pain
Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is a problem we commonly see that causes
back and hip pain. Depending on the problem, treatment may be as simple
as a lift or may require an orthosis.
THE SOLUTION
Critical to relieving your pain is evaluating and treating the subtle
gait abnormalities found to be a common yet untreated cause of chronic
musculo-skeletal complaints. Drs Huppin and Hale have specialized
training in biomechanics, a branch of medical science dealing with human
motion and posture. They will evaluate you both dynamically (while
moving) and statically (while at rest).
GAIT ANALYSIS WITH SLOW MOTION VIDEO
To diagnose many of these chronic and functional problems, we have a
video gait analysis system in our office.
We use a treadmill and four video cameras to record you as you are
walking. Gait analysis will help identify abnormal mechanics that may
be causing pain. If abnormal, a very important aspect of your
treatment will be the prescription of functional foot orthotics.
Orthotic therapy helps correct your movement and relieve the pain in
your aching muscles and bones.
CUSTOM FOOT ORTHOTICS
Foot orthoses function in several ways to reduce pain in your knees,
hips and back. The key is that each foot functions differently and our
detailed examination and gait analysis will allow us to determine the
best orthotic prescription for each persons mechanical abnormality.
SHOES
Shoes that offer the correct support for your foot are an integral part
of any biomechanical treatment plan. We will provide you with
recommendations of appropriate shoes for your foot type and a list of
shoe stores with personnel trained in proper fitting.
GETTING STARTED
If you are experiencing knee, hip or back pain call to schedule an
evaluation in our Seattle office to determine if your pain is affected
by the mechanics of your feet.
All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
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