[Boxer99]

Very true in regards to different strokes.

I am not saying that any of this is the case as I am not qualified to make any diagnosis, but from what I've learned in picking the brain of more qualified folks, one way of looking at some of what you mentioned and the possible relationship between your PF and your back pain, along with carrying extra weight (in other words a combination of factors even).

Lets look at one possibility in that an anteriorly rotated/tilted pelvis was causing overcompensations further down the kinteic chaing in the form of overpronation and leading to the PF. If the pelvic rotation was due to overly tight hip flexors, this usually coincides with inhibited glute muscles. When the glutes aren't firing propery and are essentially shut off, a lot of the support could easily be taken up by the hamstrings and also the lower back. Many really good PTs will look at the area with the symptoms and then also start checking above and below the kinetic chain. The lower back issues could be a symptom of this.

Again, I'm not saying this is the case, but it is a fairly common occurance and sequence of events from what I understand.

Heck, there could be a lack of scapular stability leading to a rounding of the shoulders. The body's primary instint is to maintain the balance of the noggin' in its position over the body, and this could have then caused gradual pelvic shifts on down. I've even been advised of cases of people having had PF treated by working on the tonus of the cervical extensor muscles because of these connections through the fascial chain.

Really amazing how the body works.

I have also wondered myself about the long-term effects others have had to deal with from continued movement and running in heavy leather boots over the course of a career as compared to modern days. Working in boots is just a part of the job, but there have obviously been huge strides in the mobility and articulation modern boots allow.