Neck Hurts? The Real Problem Might Be Your Feet (Yes… Really)

Why your neck pain often starts from the ground up — and what you can do to fix it

At Neurohealth Wellness in Allambie Heights, we often see people who have tried everything for their neck pain — stretches, massage, ergonomic chairs, expensive pillows — yet nothing truly solves the problem.

Here’s the surprising truth:
Your neck pain might be coming from your feet.
And often, left-sided neck pain is linked to stiffness or imbalance in the right foot.

Sounds wild, right?
But your body isn’t a collection of isolated parts — it’s a connected system of joints, fascia, muscles, and nerves that must work together like a finely tuned team.

Today we’ll break down exactly why this happens, how your feet influence your pelvis, spine, and neck, and what you can do to fix it.

A Simple Test: Stand Up and Try This

Stand with your toes facing straight ahead.
Now:

👉 Shift your bodyweight to the right side.

Notice what happens…

✔ Your left foot probably rotates slightly
✔ Your pelvis subtly twists
✔ Your ribcage changes shape
✔ Your neck adjusts to keep your eyes level

You didn’t try to do that — your body did it automatically.
That’s how interconnected your movement chain is.

Let’s break it down step-by-step.

How Your Right Foot Causes Left-Sided Neck Pain: The Breakdown

1. Weight shift changes pelvic rotation

When you shift your weight to the right, the left side of your pelvis swings forward.
This twist is what we call relative internal hip rotation on the right side.

This means your body is no longer stacked evenly.
Your pelvis becomes “the foundation that’s slightly rotated.”

2. Your foot arches respond

Pelvic rotation changes how your feet load:

The right foot arch lifts and becomes more rigid
The left foot flattens more easily

This is a natural biomechanical response.
But if your right foot is stiff, locked, or weak, this movement pattern becomes exaggerated.

3. Your spine curves to compensate

Your sacrum connects your spine to your pelvic bones.
When the pelvis twists, the spine must bend in the opposite direction to keep your body upright.

So:

➡️ Pelvis rotates
➡️ Low back bends to the left
➡️ Ribcage shifts
➡️ Neck is forced to counterbalance

Your spine is constantly adjusting to keep your eyes level with the horizon.

4. Your left shoulder lifts and your neck muscles overwork

To keep your head centred:

The left shoulder elevates
The muscles of the left side of your neck lengthen under load
Your neck muscles must work eccentrically all day long

And these muscles?
They’re trying to hold up your very heavy, bowling-ball-sized head.

So they…

get tired
become weak
tighten up
and eventually become painful

This often presents as:

✔ Left-sided neck stiffness
✔ Headaches
✔ Trapezius tightness
✔ Shoulder/upper back tension
✔ A feeling that you’re constantly “crooked”

Unless you get your foot, hips, ribs, and head working together, this can become a chronic problem.

Why Neurohealth Wellness Takes a Ground-Up Approach

At Neurohealth Wellness on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, our chiropractors don’t just look at your neck — they assess your entire movement system.

We work from the ground up, because your body works as a kinetic chain.

And — in line with your philosophy — we prioritise freeing and strengthening the feet, rather than relying on rigid orthotics that can weaken natural foot function over time.

Why Feet Matter So Much

Your feet are your interface with the ground.
They:

Absorb impact
Provide sensory feedback
Influence hip movement
Control knee alignment
Affect pelvic rotation
Drive spinal mechanics

If your feet are stiff, weak, or locked in dysfunctional patterns, the compensation climbs the chain… straight into your neck.

Research supports this interconnectedness:

Foot posture affects pelvic alignment and low-back curvature.¹
Asymmetrical foot function changes gait mechanics and spinal loading.²
Fascial lines (via the superficial back line) connect the plantar fascia to the neck muscles.³
Restricted ankle mobility alters pelvic rotation during walking.⁴
Neck pain studies show that global postural alignment — including lower limb mechanics — contributes to symptoms.⁵

This is why people often get temporary relief from neck treatments but never solve the cause.

How We Treat This at Neurohealth Wellness

Our chiropractors look at how your entire system functions together, not just the pain site.

Depending on your presentation, your care may include:

✔ Foot mobility and strengthening

We help you regain natural flexibility and strength in the foot and ankle to allow proper pelvic and spinal mechanics.

✔ Pelvic and hip alignment

Gentle adjustments and movement re-education restore optimal hip rotation and load transfer.

✔ Ribcage and breathing mechanics

Your neck is heavily influenced by how you breathe.
We help reset rib positioning and diaphragm coordination.

✔ Neck and shoulder mobility

Relieving tension while restoring stability in the upper spine.

✔ Whole-body movement retraining

So your system learns a new, healthier default pattern.

Try This Foot-Neck Reset Sequence at Home

These gentle resets complement the care you receive in-clinic.

1. Foot mobility

Toe waves
Arch splaying
Short-foot activation
Gentle ankle dorsiflexion stretch

2. Hip rotation control

90/90 hip switches
Standing hip internal rotation pulses

3. Ribcage positioning

Side-lying reaches
Breathing into the left ribcage to reduce neck load

4. Neck decompression

Chin nods
Upper trap/levator relaxation drills

If any movement causes pain — stop and let us assess it properly.

Prevention Over Cure: Stop Neck Pain Before It Starts

Because you prefer an emphasis on prevention, here’s what keeps the neck–foot system healthy long term:

Walk barefoot on natural surfaces when possible
Strengthen your arches
Improve ankle mobility
Avoid overly stiff footwear
Keep your hips mobile
Strengthen your deep core
Alternate sitting/standing positions
Stay aware of your breathing patterns

Small daily habits create a dramatically healthier neck.

Need Help? We’re Here to Rebalance Your Whole System

If your neck pain keeps coming back, it’s a sign that something deeper is going on — and often, it starts in the feet, hips, or ribcage.

Our chiropractors at Neurohealth Wellness in Allambie Heights treat the whole person, helping you:

Move better
Feel aligned
Reduce pain
Prevent recurrence
Rebuild resilience from the ground up

✔ Book online: www.neurohealthwellness.com.au/booking
✔ Call us: (02) 9905 9099
✔ Visit: 33–35 Kentwell Rd, Allambie Heights, near Brookvale and the Northern Beaches

Want to dive deeper? You may enjoy these related blogs:

References

Pinto RZ et al. Foot posture and its association with pelvic alignment. Manual Therapy.
Kim K et al. Asymmetric foot function and its impact on spinal loading. Gait & Posture.
Myers T. Anatomy Trains: Fascial connections from foot to neck.
Macrum E et al. Ankle dorsiflexion restriction alters lower limb kinematics. Journal of Athletic Training.
Grimmer K et al. Global posture and its relationship to neck pain. Physiotherapy Research International.

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Neck Pain Might Start in Your Feet: The Surprising Foot–Neck Connection