Unlocking Back Pain Relief: It’s Not Always Your Back

Jacquelynn Gould
Aug 31
2 min read

When clients come to me with back pain, they usually expect the problem to be in their spine, shoulders, or hips. But in many cases, I find that the real issue starts at the very bottom — with the feet.

Our feet are the foundation of our posture. Every imbalance, collapse, or restriction in the feet ripples upward — affecting the knees, hips, and spine. Over time, this can result in chronic back pain, tight hips, and even shoulder tension.

🦶 The Feet Are the Foundation

Most people don’t think about their feet unless they hurt. But even without pain, foot dysfunction can quietly undermine your entire posture.

When your feet:

Collapse inward (overpronation)
Have restricted movement
Are habitually compressed in tight shoes— it changes the way your whole body moves and carries weight.

This can lead to:

Tilted pelvis and spinal misalignment
Compensatory tension in the back and shoulders
Reduced mobility and flexibility

🧠 What Flat Feet Have to Do with Back Posture

Your feet are the base of your structure. When they collapse inward — a condition known as overpronation — your entire body has to adjust to stay upright.

Over time, poor foot mechanics can lead to:

Pelvic tilt (from uneven leg length or torque)
Forward head posture
And even thoracic kyphosis — the classic rounded upper back

That’s because your body compensates for a weak or unstable foundation by tightening and over-recruiting other muscle groups — especially in the hips, shoulders, and upper spine. This chain reaction pulls your posture forward and down.

📽️ Reclaiming Extension: Watch This Video

If you feel like you’ve “lost height,” your back is rounding, or you’re slouching no matter how hard you try — it’s time to retrain spinal extension.

This short video shows a simple but powerful technique for:

Activating back extensors
Reclaiming upright posture
Creating space and decompression through the spine

👉 Watch now on YouTube

Pair this movement with Thai massage techniques that open the feet and hips, and you’ll create real, lasting postural change.

💆‍♀️ How Thai Massage Helps Realign from the Ground Up

At Fusion Thai Massage in Mississauga, I don’t just treat symptoms — I support postural healing from the feet up.

My treatments often include:

Foot-focused Thai massage to release fascia, open joints, and restore alignment
Targeted Thai stretching to improve hip and spinal mobility
Pressure point work and compression techniques to stimulate circulation and relieve chronic tension
Postural awareness coaching to help you move more freely

Clients often say they leave feeling taller, lighter, and more grounded — not just relaxed, but realigned.

🌿 Massage Therapy Rooted in Whole-Body Awareness

Thai massage is unique because it sees the body as a connected system. At Fusion Thai Massage, I blend Eastern traditions and Western therapeutic knowledge to help your body heal itself naturally — through intelligent movement, targeted pressure, and intuitive care.