Whether you are standing or sitting, the placement of your feet affects your posture. When a condition causes improper placement, you can experience spinal misalignment that results in back or neck pain. Thankfully, podiatrists can use custom orthotics and other methods to correct foot issues and improve overall posture. Here are some ways to help maintain proper posture, starting with your feet.

How Can Solving Foot Issues Improve Posture?

1. Consider Custom Orthotics

The way your feet absorb impacts when walking affects your entire body. Custom orthotics provide cushioning and support to the feet to improve their shock resistance in many ways. For example, they can lift the arches of your feet and protect the heel, making walking and standing easier. Alternatively, they can also help reduce pronation, which is where your foot tilts too far inward when you step.

2. Massage Feet Regularly

When the muscles in your feet and ankle hold tension, they can tighten and pull too strongly. As they strain against your bones, they can tilt your pelvis and leg muscles out of alignment, which directly affects your spine and can make you walk with a limp. Releasing this tension will help those muscles relax, thereby improving your posture.

To do this, massage your feet often to loosen any tight muscles and release tension. While you can enlist a professional massage therapist for attention once a week, you can also roll a tennis ball beneath the sole of your foot for 10 minutes per day.

3. Build Strength

One of the best ways to improve posture is to build up the muscles in your feet and ankles. When the muscles are not strong enough, they cannot accurately support you when walking, causing your feet to tilt to the outer or inner sides. This results in improper weight distribution, pulling the legs out of alignment with the spine and leading to hip and back pain.

However, strengthening exercises that target the muscles in your feet and legs will help manage and reduce the discomfort. Calf raises, lunges, and regular foot stretching help to increase strength in these areas.

If you need help improving your posture through your feet, contact St. Peters Foot & Ankle: Samuel T. Wood-DPM. This podiatrist has locations in St. Peters and Florissant, MO, helping residents treat a wide variety of issues. Whether you need custom orthotics, diabetic foot care, or treatment for heel pain, they can help. Visit the website for more information about their services. Call (636) 720-0190 to schedule your appointment.