The Foot-Body Connection: How Your Feet Affect Your Whole Body

Did you know that good foot health is essential for an active, healthy life? After all, your feet support your entire body, helping to maintain balance, posture and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, foot problems are some of the most common health issues people face — and they can lead to other medical conditions. Read on to learn more about the foot-body connection, how your feet can affect your whole body, and what your feet say about your health.

How foot conditions impact other parts of your body

Foot diseases and disorders can cause mobility issues and impact quality of life. So it’s important to be aware of some of the ways that a foot condition, injury or illness can affect the health of other parts of your body.

• Back and knee pain may result from a foot disorder, disease or sports-related foot injury. For instance, conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis or stress fractures may cause you to adjust your walking pattern to avoid hurting your feet even more. This can affect your posture and balance, putting stress on other parts of your body.
• Joint pain may result from flat feet, a condition in which feet don’t have enough arch to absorb the shock of routine activities like walking, running and standing. Flat feet put additional pressure on joints.
• Leg pain, stiff legs and muscle weakness in legs can result from foot pain traveling to your legs.
• Poor posture can be the result of imbalance due to foot problems. When feet aren’t aligned with the rest of the body, this can cause you to be off balance, making you more prone to accidental falls and other injuries.
• Skin conditions can result from an athlete’s foot infection that has spread to other areas of the body, such as your hands.

What your feet say about your health

There are a number of health conditions that are sometimes first detected in the feet. Pay attention to these foot problems that could indicate a serious condition and should warrant a visit to your doctor.

• Foot cramps may be a sign of dehydration.
• Swollen feet can signal hypertension or diabetes.
• Tingling in feet may be a sign of a pinched nerve somewhere else in the body.
• Cold feet may indicate a thyroid condition.

Since feet serve an important role in our overall health, it’s a good idea to check your feet regularly, taking note of any issues like bunions, foot injuries, skin infections, signs of foot pain or any of the symptoms above. It’s important to not ignore foot pain, since it could indicate a more serious health condition. If you have any foot health concerns, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist, who can diagnose the issue and recommend the right treatment options.

Remember that you can use the CareCredit credit card to pay for healthcare provider visits, products and services at hundreds of thousands of healthcare providers and health-focused retailers nationwide.* Use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a nearby podiatrist or other foot care provider who accepts the CareCredit credit card.