Pain in the feet is a very common issue to deal with in the rehab world. It is very common to relate pain in the feet with standing on them all day, however that is not always the case. In my personal experience, foot issues occur with people who have desk jobs, just as much as people who are working labour. The truth is, the foot is designed beautifully to take a beating. If the arch is bigger, or if it is flatter than normal, many times people resort to insoles too deal with the issues. Osteopaths are against the use of such tools unless the arch is drastically off, or if the leg is biologically shorter on one side. Both of these are extremely rare, and do not make up for the amount of foot pain which we encounter in our offices.
The main foot issues dealt with in rehab are with the bottom of the foot, mostly in the Plantar Fascia. Most of the Plantar Fascia issues can be resolved with rest, or simple physio exercises. The ones that persist beyond these initial advices, usually are not due to the foot at all. The posterior chain of the lower limb is a very strong fascia line down the back of the leg. If the hip is slightly forward on someone for a variety of reasons, including an awkward sitting position, this fascia line can cause issues. The forward hip will put the posterior chain on tension, spreading out the fascia down the leg to the bottom of the foot. The weakest spot of this fascia is located on the inside of the sole of the foot. This will lead to inflammation in this area if it is constantly being torn and healed, hence the term Plantar Fasciitis.
Even beyond the hip and the back of the leg, the low back has a very strong connection with this Posterior Chain, which is why osteopaths refer to the posterior chain of the whole body, rather than just that of the leg. Obviously, we need the fascial connection of the low back and the leg to be very powerful because every time we move our leg froward, we want our low back and hip to move along with it effortlessly. Due to this strong connection, issues with the facia in the low back, and the gluteal fascia, can lead to plantar fasciitis.
Overall, with any foot issues that is not being resolved with rest, it is very important to deal with the hip and low back, due to fascial alignment, and the nerves innervating the foot coming from the low back.
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Great article on plantar fasciitis HERE.