Does It Hurt to Tie Your Shoes?
By Sara Butler
If tying your shoes has become an arduous task, then it’s time to get serious about your spinal health. That’s because difficulty or pain when bending over to tie your shoes can be a symptom of something called femoral nerve impingement, or FAI. This impingement can be caused by tight muscles that are the result of sitting down for too long each day. Here’s how to tell if you have FAI and how the chiropractors at The Joint may be able to help.
The Test
So, how do you know if you have FAI? There’s an easy way to check.
Take off your shoes and grab a chair to sit in. Now, grasp your shoes to put them back on. Did you have to twist your foot to tie your shoe? Did you groan or suck in your breath while reaching for your shoe? Did you have any pain in your back or hip when you reached down?
If you answered yes, then you may have FAI.
The Symptoms
There are a few ways that FAI happens. The most common are caused by:
- Pincer impingement – This is when the hole where your thigh bone fits into your pelvis changes shape, preventing the bone from sitting in the joint correctly and pressing on the surrounding nerves.
- Cam impingement – This is when the head of the thigh bone changes shape to become more oblong in shape, making it difficult for the bone to fit into the socket of the pelvis where it should.
- Mixed – Sometimes a combination of the above can cause impingement.
Why They Occur
Impingements can occur for a variety of reasons, from sports to developmental problems as a child, ankle instability, poor foot mechanics, sitting down for too long, or even weak core muscles. That’s why if you’re experiencing back or hip pain, it’s important to be evaluated by a chiropractor.
Even if you don’t have pain, that doesn’t mean you don’t have an issue. If you can’t touch your knees to your chest when lying flat on your back, then you may have the foundation for problems in the future. That’s why you should seek regular chiropractic care at The Joint Chiropractic -- to help you avoid difficulties in the coming years and help you deal with any issues you may currently be experiencing.
If you're worried you may have this condition, then come into The Joint for an evaluation today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Spring, Tex.
