Knee or Back Pain — But Your Feet Feel Fine?

Here’s why your feet might still be the problem — and when orthotics actually help.

Your knees hurt. Your back aches. You’ve tried stretching, rolling, maybe even some physio. Someone suggests orthotics. You’re skeptical — because your feet feel fine.

But here’s the truth: Foot mechanics play a massive role in how your knees, hips, and spine function. When something’s off down there, it creates a ripple effect up the entire chain.

At YFS (Your Form Sux), we look at movement from the ground up. If your feet aren’t doing their job, the rest of your body will start compensating — often leading to pain in places like your knees and low back.

So yes, orthotics can help — but only if you need them for the right reasons.

🦶 What Do Orthotics Actually Do?

Orthotics are custom or semi-custom inserts designed to:

• Improve foot alignment
• Support your arch and heel position
• Distribute weight more evenly
• Reduce excessive pronation (foot rolling in) or supination (rolling out)
• Absorb shock and reduce load on joints

Think of them like glasses for your feet — they don’t fix the root issue, but they help realign your body so it can function better.

🦵 How Your Feet Affect Your Knees and Back

Your body is a kinetic chain — every joint and muscle influences the ones above and below it.

If your arch collapses (aka overpronation), here’s what happens:

• Your ankle rolls in
• Your shin rotates inward
• Your knee collapses (valgus stress)
• Your hip gets pulled out of alignment
• Your pelvis tilts — and now your low back is under constant stress

That means:

• Every step = dysfunctional loading
• Every squat = compensation
• Every run = repetitive stress on your knees and spine

Even if your feet don’t hurt, they might be the origin of your pain elsewhere.

👣 When Orthotics Can Help with Knee or Back Pain

Orthotics are most effective when:

• You have flat feet or collapsed arches
• You overpronate or have poor foot control
• You have leg length differences or pelvic tilt
• Your knee pain hasn’t responded to physio or strength work
• Your back pain gets worse when standing or walking — but not sitting
• Your hips and feet fatigue fast when upright

In these cases, orthotics can:

• Improve alignment
• Reduce compensation and joint strain
• Make strength and rehab work actually stick

⚠️ But Orthotics Aren’t a Magic Fix

Orthotics are not a first-line treatment.

They’re a tool — not a solution. And at YFS, we only recommend them when:

• The dysfunction clearly starts at the foot or ankle
• Mobility, strength, and movement retraining haven’t been enough
• You’ve been assessed via gait analysis and movement screen

If you just throw orthotics at pain, you’re treating symptoms — not solving the root cause.

🧠 What We Do at YFS Instead

Our process always starts with:

• Full-body movement assessment
• Foot and ankle stability testing
• Gait and load pattern analysis
• Joint alignment screen (knees, hips, pelvis, spine)

And if orthotics are needed, we:

• Refer for custom or semi-custom orthotics
• Pair them with rehab to correct compensations
• Rebuild foot and ankle strength and coordination
• Train smarter form for walking, squatting, and lifting
• Educate you so you’re not dependent on inserts forever

🚨 Bottom Line: If Your Feet Are the Problem, Orthotics Can Help — But They’re Not a Band-Aid

Knee pain? Back pain? We don’t start by selling you inserts. We start by asking: Why is your body overloading in the first place?

If the answer points to your feet — that’s when orthotics become part of the strategy.

At YFS, we’re never just treating where it hurts. We’re solving what caused it — from the ground up.

Still stuck in pain and no one’s looked at your feet?
Book your movement assessment at YFS today — and let’s find out what your body’s really trying to say.