Flat Foot and Lower Back Pain: An Association and Implications for Treatment

BackgroundLower back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with multifactorial etiology making it challenging to treat. Flatfoot is an often overlooked condition that might significantly contribute to the LBP burden. ObjectiveThe primary objective is to establish flat foot as a risk factor for LBP. The study aims to determine the prevalence of flatfoot in patients with LBP compared to those without. MethodsThis study was conducted at a private clinic in Chicago who were randomly selected and screened for flatfoot and LBP. The prevalence of flatfoot among patients with LBP was measured, and the odds ratio was calculated. ResultsOut of the patients with LBP, 27.3% had flatfoot, compared to only 9.5% among those without LBP. The study found that patients with LBP were 3.54 times more likely to have flatfoot. This association was particularly strong in non-obese, male patients over sixty years of age. ConclusionThe study suggests that flatfoot is a risk factor for LBP. This finding calls for a change in the approach to LBP assessment, including early screening and treatment of asymptomatic flatfoot to prevent complications later in life.