16/05/2019
Lower Back/Hip Pain?
It could be coming from your big toe!
Dr. Glenn is part of the teaching faculty at in Toronto. One of the main take home points during his training session is to develop an understanding of the relationship between lower back/hip pain and big toe movement.
For simplicity sake, the walking (Gait) cycle has 3 phases:
1st phase - Heel strike - when the heel of the foot hits the ground
2nd phase - mid-stance phase - when the foot is flat on the ground
3rd phase - Toe/push off phase - when the foot pushes off the ground to start the cycle all over again
In order to walk efficiently through this cycle, the big toe should be able to extend (raise big toe towards the knee) at least 60-65° to stimulate the calves, hamstrings and gluteus region.
Think of your foot as a rocker on a rocking chair. Your heel is rounded and transfers your weight through the middle of your foot to your toes. If your toes, especially your big toes do not raise up, you will not be able to continue rocking forwards. Instead, your body will be forced to pick up your foot and leg, thus resulting in overcompensation of your hip flexors and quadriceps muscles.
When your hip flexors and quadriceps muscles are “tight” it can pull your pelvis forward, therefore putting extra compressive force into the lower back. This can lead to back pain. .
@ MuseMovement
