Back pain is a common problem affecting people all over the world. Blame it on incorrect posture, sedentary lifestyle or simply a minor injury; it can ruin your schedule in a number of ways. And its intensity can range from being a mild ache in the posterior to a severe and chronic pain that lasts for months.
Only a handful of people are aware of the fact that out feet can play an important role in contributing to back pain. They dictate our body posture and also guide our movement. So exercises that focus on our feet are an excellent way to target back pain.
Lower back pain, called in medical terminology as lumbosacral pain can arise out of conditions related to feet. For instance, standing for prolonged periods can tighten muscles which leads to stiffness and discomfort. Over-pronation (excessive arching of the feet inwards or outwards) can also result in bunions, knee pain and misaligned bones. Here are a few feet exercises to cure lower back pain, as suggested by The Lifehacker:
Toe pressing
Toe pressing increases the blood flow in your feet and thus helps in relieving back pain. Stand straight on the floor and bend your knees and grip the floor with pointed toes. Hold this pose for 3 seconds and repeat 10 times, for each foot.
Toe walking
The same principle works here as well. Walking on your toes for 20 seconds everyday is very effective in soothing back pain as it helps strengthen your tendons.
Toe stretching
Sit straight on the floor and cross your legs, one over the other. Stretch out your toes in all the directions thrice, and repeat for the other foot.
Toe pencil grip
Stand straight and with your knees, try grabbing a pencil from the floor. Hold the pencil for afew seconds, release, relax and then repeat.
Upward stretching
Lie down on the floor and stretch your legs. Wrap your feet with a towel and raise them upwards, with knees straight. Hold the pose when the knee aligns with your head. Do the same for the other leg.
Ankle circles
Lie down on the floor, and stretch one leg upwards. Rotate the ankle for about 15 seconds. Bring your leg down and relax, Repeat the process for your other leg.
Heel stretch
Sit down on the floor and keep one leg stretched out in front of you. Bend the other one under your thigh. Try to reach the toes of the stretched leg and move them for half a minute. Repeat for the other leg as well.
Foot massage
Keep a tennis ball on the floor and with your heels on it, start push it forward and back. A very relaxing, and playful massage will help reduce soreness and pain.
