Sciatica Symptoms and Foot Pronation

Sciatica can commonly occur due to the over-pronation of the foot, which causes flat-footedness and an abnormal gait and posture. This theory is widely accepted by podiatrists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and even sports medicine specialists. However, it is doubted by many healthcare professionals, especially in mild to moderate circumstances.  

Flat-footedness, also referred to as fallen arches, can be demonstrated unilaterally or bilaterally, and this health issue can cause foot pain with a variety of other symptoms. However, many healthcare professionals still doubt that flat-footedness is considerable enough to cause sciatica, being how the human body can compensate for structural and functional irregularity. The purpose of the following article is to demonstrate how foot pronation can cause sciatica and other symptoms.  

What is Foot Pronation?

Foot pronation is characterized as a flattening of the frontal arch of the foot and inwards turning of the big toe. Pronated feet seem to roll inward at the ball of the foot, making the knife-edge of the foot seem to bend outwards at the ankle joint. The heel bone is further towards the outside of the human body in placement when compared to the ankle bone. This type of foot abnormality may be shown on one foot (unilateral expression) or in both feet (bilateral expression).  

Over-pronation can range considerably from mild to moderate and severe. It’s fundamental to understand that the action of pronation is a normal part of standing and walking. However, in the following article, we will discuss how over-pronation or flat-footedness can cause various health issues, including sciatica, a collection of painful signs and symptoms.  

Pronated Foot Mechanisms and Sciatica

When the feet don’t contact the floor, the human body will have to compensate from the feet to the top of the head. Research studies have associated foot pronation with sciatica and many other debilitating signs and symptoms related to this health issue. Moreover, over-pronation affects the angle at which the foot meets the ankle.  

In several patients, the joints of the spine, sacroiliac, hip, knee, and the soft tissues that maintain and support these joints will adjust to the over-pronation of the foot. This can develop a variety of signs and symptoms. For sciatica, several of the mechanisms make up the several consequences of anatomical tilting and compensatory activities, including:  

• Postural changes which can aggravate nerve root compression or impingement in the lumbar spine
• Postural and gait changes which can affect the sacroiliac joint between the pelvic ilium and sacrum
• Postural and functional changes can affect the piriformis muscle and cause piriformis syndrome.

The sciatic nerve may be affected by joint or soft tissue health issues. Compression or impingement is merely one of the mechanisms created by muscular imbalances, joint misalignments, and other prospective outcomes of over-pronation of the foot. Some people may also confuse other health issues for sciatica. These can also affect the hip, the knee, the ankle, and the foot due to compensation of the human body in response to over-pronation of the foot.

Foot Pronation Risks and Concerns

Many healthcare professionals believe that severe instances of foot pronation are the cause of foot pain, in addition to other well-known signs and symptoms. Nonetheless, healthcare professionals also discuss that mild to moderate cases of over-pronation, accounting for approximately 98 percent of diagnoses, are likely to be non-factors in sciatica signs and symptoms.  

Other healthcare professionals discuss that sciatica caused by foot pronation is plausible in severe over-pronation health issues, despite apparent postural and gait abnormalities. These healthcare professionals believe that sciatica caused by foot pronation, although not frequently well-known, is possible in several cases, supporting the findings of several research studies. It is logical and plausible based on structural and functional evidence and absent in many instances where sciatica signs and symptoms would seem completely justifiable based on cases of acute flat-footedness.  

Foot pronation, or flat-footedness, can cause overall imbalances in the human body. Pronated feet or flat feet can ultimately cause pain and discomfort in the spine, hips, knees, and feet, as well as shift the entire human body out of alignment. Research studies have demonstrated that women with flat feet are approximately 50 percent more likely than those without to have low back pain and sciatica symptoms.  – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

Low Back Pain

The purpose of the article is to describe how foot pronation can be associated with sciatica and other health issues. Sciatica is a collection of symptoms characterized by pain, tingling sensation, and numbness. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.  

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez  

Additional Topic Discussion: Foot Orthotics

Low back pain and sciatica are common health issues that affect many individuals worldwide. However, did you know that chronic pain may be due to foot problems? Health issues originating in the foot may ultimately cause imbalances in the spine, such as poor posture, which can cause the well-known symptoms of low back pain and sciatica. Custom foot orthotics, individually designed with 3-arch support, can help promote overall health and wellness by supporting and promoting good posture and correcting foot problems. Custom foot orthotics can ultimately help improve low back pain and sciatica.  

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