Back Pain Caused by Walking With a Limp

Pain is an indicator of a problem or injury. Limping is the body's way of modifying movement or weight bearing in response to pain or structural problems. Due to the changes that happen throughout the body with improper walking patterns, back pain caused by walking with a limp can occur.

Back Pain Basics

• The back comprises a series of bones, muscles and nerves running from the head to the buttocks. Back pain occurs for a variety of reasons, ranging from a simple muscle sprain to an injury to structural or degenerative problems of the muscles or spinal bones. However, back pain does not always originate in the back area. An injury to the leg or ankle, for example, can cause an irregular pattern of ambulation or walking that can affect the back and cause pain symptoms.

Limping Basics

• Limping is a deviation of the normal gait pattern. The gait pattern begins with the initial contact of the heel and continues through the shifting of weight over the foot to the toes, where the weight is then transferred to the opposite leg in order to move the other leg forward to take a step. Limping can occur with the inability to fully bear weight on one leg due to pain symptoms or structural problems of the foot, ankle, leg, hips or back.

Back Pain Caused by Walking With a Limp

• Back pain can be caused by limping because differences in the gait pattern can create an abnormal amount of stress to the body. Limping generates an increase in weight bearing or shock on another part of the body. This can create pain symptoms in the legs, hips or back area. The addition of excessive strain to any of these areas can translate to back pain.

Treating Back Pain

• The treatment of back pain symptoms is dependent of the cause. However, pain and inflammation, or swelling, may be decreased through the use of ice application and rest. Anti-inflammatory medications may also decrease inflammation-causing symptoms.

Resolving Back Pain Caused by Walking With a Limp

• To resolve back pain caused by walking with a limp, the reason for the abnormal gait pattern must be addressed first. If limping is caused by a sprained ankle, for example, resolution of the ligament injury will decrease back pain symptoms. If pain issues are caused by degenerative problems such as arthritis, or damage to the joints, management of arthritis symptoms and activity adaptations to prevent further deterioration of the joint may ease back pain caused by limping. Back pain and limping due to leg-length discrepancies may benefit from shoe inserts or shoe lifts to increase the shortened leg, thus decreasing gait abnormalities.