Surprisingly, flat feet may be responsible for your headaches!
Your feet are your basis of support…your foundation. When your base of support isn’t solid, it impacts your posture. Additionally, this instability may affect the ankles, knees, hips, and back. Plus. According to study, flat feet may be responsible for frequent, severe headaches. Even migraines!
According to experts, up to 25% of migraine headaches are caused by postural difficulties. The muscles in your lower limbs contract for longer durations when your feet are weak. Signals from overworked muscles might overpower the brain. The brain’s blood vessels then become irritated, leaving you with a hammering pain. This occurs often in my podiatry practice in Houston, Texas. I get daily recommendations for patients with back, hip, and knee pain, as well as headaches. They have no other reasons than postural problems. I assess these individuals by seeing how their feet manage pressure.
Diagnosing Flat Feet
How do I do it? Through the use of a weight-bearing x-ray (taken while you stand.) This allows me to examine your skeletal structure and how well your foot bears weight. By observing your gait, I can also determine the height of your arch in addition to the angle at which your foot bears weight and how your heel rolls with every stride.
Although I am able to surgically treat a flat foot, I do not often suggest it. Recovery takes a very long time. Instead, I take a more cautious approach by creating a custom orthotic. An orthotic is a custom-made insole that treats the underlying cause of your instability. I make it after a thorough biomechanical examination. Therefore, my orthotics provide your feet and legs with stability and efficiency. This will bring the overworked muscles back to a normal level of activity. This will also help resolve any posture issues that contributed to your throbbing headaches. If your doctor tells you nothing is wrong while you’re in pain, ask him or her to observe your gait. Referral to a podiatrist could provide relief.
Yoga for Flat Feet
Flat feet may make running painful. As a result, you’ll most likely need orthotics to continue training (see below.) You may like to practice yoga in the meanwhile. Check out these three yoga poses meant to alleviate discomfort associated with flat feet.
As your arches strain at your plantar fascia, flat feet may lead to heel pain. These are bands that run down the soles of your feet. Your calf muscles and Achilles tendon may both benefit from yoga’s stretching techniques.
According to the yoga experts at PopSugar.com, these three positions are perfect:
Hero Pose
Sit on a block or a rolled-up blanket with your knees bent and toes pointing behind you and close to your hips.
Use your thumbs to massage the soles of your feet while you are in this position.
Try this pose for about three minutes, then gradually work up to five minutes.
Arch Lifts
Stand tall, feet hip-width apart, and one foot in front of the other.
Shorten your foot while standing by squeezing the toes of your front foot toward the heel.
Repeat with the other foot. Try it for about one minute each foot.
Crescent Lunge Pose
Stand with one foot approximately 3-4 inches in front of the other.
Keep your front knee slightly bent and your front foot flat on the mat.
Raise your back heel.
Lift your arms toward the sky and look up a little.
Try maintaining this position for one minute before switching sides and repeating.
Why We Suggest Orthotics
As previously stated, if you present with foot pain (or head pain), we may recommend a set of custom orthotics. These devices adjust the position of the foot. And this is certainly a significant factor in the start of your discomfort. Custom orthotics, as previously noted, are inserts that slip into your shoes. In contrast to store-bought inserts, we construct personalized orthotics for your body. We create them after taking a mold of your foot, so we can personalize every aspect.
Custom orthotics are recommended by a podiatrist in Houston.
When casting, we shall maintain the neutral posture of your foot. Thus, when the cast is complete, it will reflect the ideal functioning of your foot.
Holding your foot steady is essential. Each foot joint adjusts for any joint position abnormalities or imbalances. If you have had your feet scanned while walking on a plate or a mat, your orthotic may not function properly. These techniques photograph your foot. However, your foot is already adjusting for imbalances in this posture. Therefore, these costly inserts become ineffective.
Not the case with our custom-made orthotics. We sculpt a form that enhances your biomechanical performance. Additionally, we may personalize the top shell of your orthotic. We may expand it to fit the contour of your foot. And we may select materials that work best with the shoes in which you’ll be using these orthotics.
Furthermore, we can assist you in choosing custom padding for your orthotics. If your heels lack natural fat pads, we may remove a portion of the orthotic’s shell. Then, we will fill the space with gel or foam to soften the orthotic’s heel.
Is pain in the front of your foot an issue? Consider placing padding behind the ball of your foot. This will alleviate some pressure from your forefoot while walking and standing. There are so many options when you choose a custom orthotic, including more cushioning for the arch!
Come in for an examination if you’re not sure whether a custom orthotic is the best option for you. Dr. Shobowale will do a thorough examination and gait analysis. Regardless of the source of your discomfort, she will advise you on the correct course of action.
