thoracic spine click and foot pain

[BruceG]

Does anyone have advice for this symptom:

I do Pilates-style leg-slides as part of my physio treatment for a long-term problem in my LEFT-leg which has severly limited my walking for many years.

If I do a RIGHT leg slide WITHOUT first doing an abdominal contraction then as I extend the leg, I feel a clicking in the THORACIC spine.

If I do the leg slide properly with abdominal contaction it does not click.

If I do LEFT leg slides I get no clicking.

Over the years I have established a definite relationship between restrictions in my thoracic spine and pain in my LEFT leg (in particular hip pain and foot cramping especially around the big toe).

I have tried countless times to treat with a combination of osteopathy and soft-tissue massage to correct the spine and surrounding muscles, combined with back and hip stretching and core-stability exercises and stretching of my left big toe (which is diagnosed as stiff).

However I am repeatly beaten by WALKING which sets me back to square-one. I've now reached a stage where 20-30 mins walk is enough to set it off e.g. going to the supermarket.

What should I do: stop walking for a few month and hope I can build up my core-stability without re-injury? Or what?

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[Dr Damien]

From your description, It sounds like a muscle imbalance issue....

My xplanation will sound very simplistic, however having a rigid thoracic spine might mean instabilities in your lumbar region. Having one side affected more than the other suggests an imbalance issue, bracing using your transversus abdominis stabilizes your lumbar spine making it it less mobile as you move your hip into flexion or abduction limited the excessive movement between the lumbar and thorax...

you might have a stiff hip as well...

You definitely have to continue with your core stability exercises, if you are training with a physio consider using an exercise ball, consider exercises to improve the range in your thoracic spine.

Also consider including some of the core stability work in a more functional exercise such as walking

if neither of these are helpful in the longterm, consider getting a lumbar support and use this when you are going on long distance walks alone...

Cheers

[BruceG]

Thanks for this sound advise.

I've started doing short walks actively focusing on abdominal contraction - this works well. Also recently I've started using a Spinalis chair at work. This forces you to do core stability all day - very expensive (around £800) but I would recommend.

I've been experimenting with a number of ideas lately - one thing stands out as having had a miraculous effect on my left hip which has got in a total mess: the Supine Groin Stretch which is part of the Egoscue method.

This has left me a bit confused: I've done a search on this forum and the word Egoscue only comes up once.