Sciatica Symptoms and Foot Pronation

Sciatica can commonly occur due to the over-pronation of the foot, which causes flat-footedness as well as 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. 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. Basically, 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 a variety of health issues, including sciatica, a collection of painful signs and symptoms. 

Pronated Foot Mechanisms and Sciatica

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

In several patients, the joints of the spine, sacroiliac, hip, and knee, as well as the soft tissues which 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 which 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 which might be created by muscular imbalances and joint misalignments as well as 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, as a result of 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. This supports the findings of several research studies, where it is logical and plausible based on structural and functional evidence, in addition to absent in several cases where sciatica signs and symptoms would seem completely justifiable based on acute cases of 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

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 as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez