Like the foundations of a building supporting what is above it, so your legs (and feet) support the weight of your body, any weakness or pain in your legs  given long enough,  eventually effects your spine and all that is attached to it. When people limp for instance it creates a lop-sidedness in the body. Lop-sided bodies are not as energy efficient, well balanced, comfortable or attractive as straight bodies .

Broken bones, sprains, strains, torn or stiff muscles, arthritis or just plain laziness and lack of fitness in your legs, can and often do cause back and neck pain, some times long after your leg and foot actually stop hurting.

This explains why people are often mystified by a sudden onset of  back pain that seems to be unrelated to anything that has happened to their back such as through  heavy lifting  or falling awkwardly.

The best prevention for leg related back pain is to have a good exercise regime that includes stretches and strengthens  your leg muscles, constant postural awareness and wearing good shoes.

Getting back pain from a sore knee or ankle is a type of compensatory effect, a sore knee may cause your knee, ankle or hip on the other side of your body, to become sore too for no apparent reason.

A sore knee can cause back pain through compensatory affects, it is like driving your car around with a wheel missing, the rest of the car will eventually be damaged by it.

People awaiting hip or knee replacement surgery often require further joint replacement surgery later on because of the compensatory affect. Their other previously healthy joints work harder and at stressed angles to keep you upright. Weight gain usually results through reduced mobility.

If you possibly can, get all niggling leg and foot problems sorted out before they worsen and spread. Such problems are not rare , they happen all the time, and not just to the elderly, many young people every year sustain sports injuries to their legs. Even if you may have had successful surgery at the time it does not mean it will be a permanent and complete remedy, anyone who follows football knows that once a player has sustained a leg injury another often quickly follows, proof  again of the compensatory effect.

The truth of the matter is that your body is busy doing all sorts of stuff that you are not normally conscious of, like breathing and  placing one foot infront of the other when you walk. The way a body manages to keep itself moving when parts of it are sick or injured is also something that requires little conscious thought.

There are many forms of therapy that can help you deal with leg and back problems such as acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic and massage therapy. Exercise in the form of  yoga, pilates and Tai Qi can be effective too. Some find that switching to a less acidic and low sugar diet can reduce symptoms. A regular dietary review can be helpful, poor eating habits can creep up on you like poor postural habits can.

Do something today about that dodgy knee before it gets dodgier.