Foot And Leg Pain Centre

Hip and Lower Back Pain

Walk this way to happy hips.

Treatment For Hip And Lower Back Pain… By A Podiatrist?

Did you know that hip and lower back pain may originate from your feet and legs? It can and does happen! Structural and biomechanical abnormalities in the feet or lower legs may cause your body to unconsciously adjust to compensate for pain and discomfort. Over time, this may lead to other areas of your body, such as your hips or lower back, becoming painful and uncomfortable.

Poor posture is another possible cause of hip and lower back pain for the same reason. Slouching or other forms of poor posture may be related to poor foot and leg function, placing added pressure on the hips and lower back, leading to aches and pains. Podiatry may be able to help with treatments, including postural and biomechanical assessments, gait evaluation, and 3D foot orthotics.

Types Of Hip And Lower Back Pain Conditions

There are many forms of hip and lower back pain, with two of the most common being:

Hip Bursitis

Bursitis is a condition where the bursa (small sacs of fluid which buffer bony prominences and assist tendons around bones) becomes inflamed. When this occurs at the side of the hips, it’s known as hip bursitis. This often leads to an ache on the outside of the hip, which is especially sore when sleeping on your side.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

While localised conditions such as arthritis of the spine, disk injury, and instability may be the source of your lower back pain, the cause may be related to the way your feet and legs work. Poor foot function and compensatory lower back mechanics can have various implications, and ignoring lower limb biomechanics can lead to repetitive strain injuries of lower back structures, including muscles, joints, discs, and nerves. When repeated treatment is necessary to manage your lower back pain, it’s time to check in with a podiatrist to ensure your lower back has the best opportunity to recover from the ground up.

Foot And Leg Pain Centre

Hip, Hop, And Happening Treatment Options

We may recommend one or more treatments depending on the underlying cause of your hip or lower back pain. If we determine that your pain is most likely due to an issue with your feet or lower legs, we will work with you and collaborate with your trusted lower back specialists to decide the best course of action to stabilise your lower back and address any secondary compensations such as muscle overuse syndromes or nerve compressions.

Foot And Leg Pain Centre

Why Foot and Leg Pain Centre?

30+ Years Of Experience

Dr Angus Chard, PhD, is intelligent and has extensive experience. However, he also suffered from debilitating hip pain for 15 years before it was finally diagnosed as a femoral acetabular impingement. He underwent two reconstructions before having a hip replacement at the age of 46. Suffice it to say that he has been through the experience himself and can help you explore conservative options before considering surgical options.

Wide Range Of Treatment Options

Resolving chronic low back pain involves accurately diagnosing all potential contributors. In many cases, the often-overlooked length of your legs can have a profound impact on the stability of your lower back. When this is a concern, we provide an EOS scan to accurately determine functional and structural differences down to 0.1 mm. Referring our patients for this scan can have life-changing benefits and help address a history of inaccurate treatment.

Convenient Location

Located on Old Northern Road in Dural with easy parking and access, we’re a short trip from surrounding suburbs such as Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Pennant Hills, Glenhaven, and Kenthurst.

A Note For Referrers

Are you a practitioner looking for an experienced podiatrist for referrals? We’re more than happy to accept referrals for patients of all ages. Let us shine the light on accurately diagnosing and quantifying your patient’s chronic lower back instability. We are also happy to collaborate with you and receive your patients under the Enhanced Primary Care Plan arrangement. Reach out today to learn more about referrals to the Foot and Leg Pain Centre.

Foot And Leg Pain Centre

Questions About Hip and Lower Back Pain

How do you deal with severe lower back pain?

The treatment for severe lower back pain will depend on what may be causing it. If you’re interested in finding out which treatments may be suitable for you, please see us for an assessment.

What if I have sciatica?

Sciatica can occur for two reasons. Firstly, it can be due to compression of one of the four nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve, arising from your lower back. In such cases, relief is often found by simply stabilising your pelvis and reducing lower leg and foot functional compensations. Alternatively, sciatic-like symptoms can develop from compression of one of the deep hip muscles, the piriformis, compressing the sciatic nerve due to excess internal hip rotation. Such cases can be easily relieved through improving lower limb and foot function, along with combined soft tissue release of hip muscles and strengthening protocols.

What causes back and hip pain at the same time?

Typically when back and hip pain occurs together, it is due to structural instability resulting from functional or structural leg length difference. Different leg lengths may result in instability where the pelvis connects with the back. This instability leads to a host of overuse syndromes and long-term arthritic conditions, and even disc herniation.

How do you relieve lower back and hip pain?

While the treatment for lower back and hip pain varies depending on a variety of factors, We focus on the instability resulting from foot and leg function. For example, it is known that when your feet roll in, your hips internally rotate, which can result in the hip bursa being squashed by a muscle. This internal hip rotation has the additional effect of tilting your pelvis and destabilising your back. Therefore stabilising foot and leg function can have a direct impact on improving lower back stability and reducing symptoms.

What do you do if your lower back and hip hurt?

Gentle stretching is often a good way to relieve lower back and hip pain, as is applying an ice pack covered in cloth to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. If the pain is caused by a muscle injury, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may also help. Always consult your healthcare professional before commencing any treatment.

Is lower back pain more common in women?

Some causes of lower back pain, such as pregnancy and hormonal-related pains and PMDD (premenstrual dysmorphic disorder), may be more likely to appear in people assigned female at birth.

How can a podiatrist help with my hip and lower back pain?

Podiatrists can perform assessments such as postural and biomechanical assessments, which may determine if your hip or lower back pain may be caused by issues with your feet or legs. If your pain does appear to be foot or leg related, treating the underlying cause may prove more effective than other treatments.

Do you adopt an evidence-based approach?

Yes, we use an evidence-based approach in every form of treatment that we use at Foot and Leg Pain Centre.

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Foot And Leg Pain Centre

Take The First Step To Hip, Hip, Hooray

Chronic hip and lower back pain may be directly associated with poor foot and leg function. In cases such as these, addressing the underlying foot or leg-related concern may be the most effective way to address this pain. If you have a condition such as hip bursitis or lower back instability, our team is on hand to hear your concerns, perform an assessment, and determine how we may be able to help you.

To get started, book an appointment with our team at Foot and Leg Pain Centre today.