Hip & lower back pain
Hip and lower back pain can affect the way you walk, exercise and move through everyday life. Pain in these areas can sometimes be influenced by the way your feet and lower limbs move and the way forces are transferred through your body.
At Aligna Podiatry in Balwyn North we assess your lower limb biomechanics to identify what may be contributing to your hip or lower back pain. Your treatment plan is built around you and may include custom orthotics, footwear advice, targeted strengthening and high-power laser therapy where appropriate. Book a hip and lower back pain assessment today.
What is hip and lower back pain?
Hip and lower back pain can come from many different structures including the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments around the hip and lower back.
While pain may begin in the hip or back, the way your feet and legs move can sometimes contribute to how forces travel through your lower body. Changes in foot function, muscle weakness, poor lower limb alignment or differences in leg length can all affect the way you walk and place additional stress on the hips and lower back.
It can develop gradually from repeated stress on the lower body, though it can also come on more suddenly after an injury or change in activity. Running, prolonged standing, changes in exercise, poor lower limb mechanics and the way your feet load can all contribute to ongoing strain.
How it can feel:
- Aching or stiffness around the lower back
- Pain around the hip or buttock
- Pain that gets worse with walking or standing
- Discomfort during running or exercise
- Stiffness after sitting or resting
- Pain that may spread into the thigh
Signs, symptoms & when to see a podiatrist
Common signs:
- Persistent hip or lower back pain
- Pain when walking or standing
- Stiffness after sitting
- Pain during exercise
- Changes in your walking pattern
- One side of your body feeling more loaded than the other
See a podiatrist if:
- Your pain has lasted more than a few days
- It is affecting walking, exercise or work
- Your pain keeps returning
- You notice changes in the way you walk
- You have tried resting but the pain continues
If your symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening or associated with significant numbness, weakness or changes in bladder or bowel function you should seek urgent medical assessment.
How we treat hip & lower back pain at Aligna
We don’t just focus on where you feel the pain. We assess how your feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back work together to identify factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Stage 1: Reduce pain and irritation
We first identify what is aggravating your symptoms and recommend appropriate activity modification. Where appropriate we may use high-power laser therapy to help settle muscular or soft tissue pain.
Stage 2: Improve strength and movement
We may prescribe targeted exercises to improve the strength and control of the feet, legs and lower limb. This can help your body manage everyday movement and exercise more effectively.
We also find the cause
Your lower limb biomechanics can influence how forces travel through the body. We assess your walking and movement patterns and may recommend custom orthotics where appropriate to improve foot function and reduce unnecessary stress through the lower limbs.
If your symptoms appear to require assessment outside podiatry we can also recommend appropriate referral.
Recovery & rehab
How long does it take?
Recovery time depends on what is causing your hip or lower back pain. Some problems settle within several weeks while long-standing issues may require a longer period of rehabilitation.
Why the right approach matters
Rest alone may settle symptoms temporarily but improving strength, movement and lower limb function can help reduce the risk of the pain returning.
How we help you stay pain-free:
- Lower limb biomechanical assessment
- Targeted strengthening
- Foot and lower limb exercises
- Custom orthotics if needed
- Footwear advice
- Activity modification
- High-power laser therapy where appropriate
- Guidance on returning to exercise
Our goal is to improve the way your lower limbs function so you can move more comfortably and confidently.
Summary
Our goal is simple: to settle your pain, improve the way your lower limbs function and help you move comfortably again.
At Aligna Podiatry we don’t just treat the area that hurts. We assess your lower limb biomechanics to understand whether the way your feet and legs move may be contributing to your hip or lower back pain, then address the root cause where possible.
Your treatment plan is built around you, combining custom orthotics, targeted exercises and footwear advice with high-power laser therapy where appropriate.
Whether your hip or lower back pain is affecting your walking, exercise or everyday life, we’re here to help you restore function, move better and stay active.
Book your appointment in Balwyn North
Struggling with chronic heel pain, tendon pain or another stubborn injury?
Our experienced team at Aligna Podiatry in Balwyn North takes a holistic, whole-body approach to treating the foot, ankle and knee. We combine high-power laser therapy, shockwave with hands-on care, cupping and rehab to reduce pain and restore alignment and movement. Contact our Balwyn North clinic today to book an assessment and find out which treatment is right for you.