Back Pain is one of the most common struggles that people face at some point in their lives.
There are many factors that might cause back pain, such as bad posture, weak muscles, and sitting for prolonged periods of time. You probably know all of that already, but have you ever considered that wearing the wrong shoes could be the reason for your back pain?
- How shoes affect your back health
- Features of good shoes that ease back pain
- Here are the best shoes for back pain
- Prescription Orthotic Shoes
- Speed training sneakers
- Running sneakers
- Rocker Bottom Sole Shoes
- Orthopedic Insole Sandals
- Ergonomic Shoes
- The worst shoes for your feet and back pain
- Heels
- Improperly fitted shoes
- Flats and Flip-flops
- Our top 5 picks with the best shoes for back pain
- Speed Trainers
- Running Shoes
- Rocker Bottom Sole Shoes
- Orthopedic Insole Sandals
- Ergonomic Shoes
How shoes affect your back health
Your feet and the shoes you choose carry you through each day and support your whole body.
Uncomfortable shoes alter the way you walk, run and stand. Your body always tries to compensate for any sort of discomfort, and these compensations can cause poor posture and muscle imbalances.
Therefore, this can lead to back pain, or it can worsen already existing painful conditions. (1)
The shoes you wear are the only contact with solid ground that you have, so they need to be supporting, comfortable and good quality.
Features of good shoes that ease back pain
The right shoes help you stay in the right posture, absorb the shock as you move, and provide stability. When buying your next shoes, make sure they check the following boxes.
- Flat base
- Adjustable laces or straps
- Stable
- Flexible in the right places
- Roomy toe box
- Firm sole
- Midsole that provides cushioning
Here are the best shoes for back pain
Prescription Orthotic Shoes
The best option for shoes when you have back pain is to order custom prescription orthotics.
Based on your medical problem or pain, foot type, and level of physical activity, a podiatrist can prescribe orthotics for you.
These shoes aim to correct biomechanics and help to relieve symptoms. Orthotic shoes are a medical device and only a healthcare professional can prescribe it for you after a careful examination.
Speed training sneakers
The shoes that are designed for speed workouts are among the most comfortable shoes for people with back or joint pain.
Speed training shoes are made for multi-directional movements, providing stability and agility as you move fast. These types of shoes ensure superior cushioning and arch support, which is really important for people with back pain.
Even if you don’t work out regularly, you can wear speed training sneakers during long days, when you need to move around often. These shoes absorb the shock as you walk and run (even on treadmills) and help you stay in the right posture for longer.
Running sneakers
Similar to speed training shoes, running sneakers ensure a high level of comfort and support. They can help aid back pain, providing cushioning and absorbing the stress.
Running shoes are designed for long-distance runs, where your feet need motion control and flexibility for a long period of repeating movement. These shoes are lightweight, which makes them a perfect option for people, who enjoy steady walks and want to wear the lightest sneakers option.
Rocker Bottom Sole Shoes
Rocker bottom sole shoes have a rounded heel and a thicker sole than the average shoes. They are designed for people with lower back pain, and joint and foot issues, such as arthritis or plantar fasciitis.
The rounded heel decreases the impact when walking and enhances mobility. This makes moving less painful and more natural to people with affected joints.
The latest studies reveal that wearing rocker bottom shoes strengthens the back muscles, and helps fix spine’s curvature, which results in back pain relief. (2)
Orthopedic Insole Sandals
There are comfortable shoes for the warm sunny days too! Orthopedic insole sandals by brands like Birkenstock and Naot are equipped with an orthopedic insole that provides both cushioning and stability.
These sandals ensure proper weight distribution across each foot, and have therapeutic effect. They’re flexible and shock absorbing base conforms to the individual foot shape of the wearer, which makes the shoes a perfect choice for long summer walks.
Ergonomic Shoes
Ergonomic shoes keep your feet and back in the right posture by providing anatomical arch support. The soles are designed to ensure extra support, increase blood circulation, and reduce pressure on the heel.
These shoes can help aid long-term back and foot pain. They are a great option for people who spend a long time standing or walking.
The worst shoes for your feet and back pain
If you want to improve your back health, avoid wearing these types of shoes.
Heels
Ladies, even if you already know that, you might be avoiding the fact that heels are bad for you in so many ways.
Walking on the balls of your feet is unnatural to your body and shifts your center of gravity. This makes you arch your back more than usual and can cause lower back pain, or worsen already existing conditions.
Shoes with heels put extra stress on your body and push you forward as you walk. Besides back problems, wearing heels often can cause Haglund’s deformity, and increases the risk of plantar fasciitis.
Improperly fitted shoes
No matter how comfortable certain shoes are, if they are not your size, they can cause back pain. There should be about 0.5 inches of space between the tip of your longest toe and the end of the toe box.
Be careful when choosing your footwear and always try both of the shoes before buying them.
Flats and Flip-flops
Shoes without arch and heel support are a bad option for everyone, who wants to have a good posture and pain-free back. Wearing flats and flip-flops makes your joints compensate for the improperly aligned hips, back and ankles.
These shoes don’t provide any cushioning or stability, and can lead to injuries and lower back pain. (3)
Our top 5 picks with the best shoes for back pain
Speed Trainers
- Style#: BQ7043-550
- 2 Zoom Air units in the forefoot are lightweight and responsive for jumping. Cushlon foam at the heel helps absorb impact from high-intensity reps and cushions during lifts.
- A plate runs the length of your foot for stability as you move through your routine. It distributes pressure over the Zoom Air units to activate responsive cushioning.
- The flexible slip-on design is covered with mesh for breathability, durability and a supportive feel.
- Split sole and arc on the side support multidirectional movement.
Running Shoes
Rocker Bottom Sole Shoes
- style: Low-Top
- outer material: Fabric
- closure type: Lace-Up
Orthopedic Insole Sandals
- Thong sandal featuring rubber toe post with logoed medallion and adjustable vamp strap with buckle closure
- Contoured footbed with cork midsole
Ergonomic Shoes
- GUARANTEED COMFORT! Test our shoes for up to 60 DAYS and see for yourself why Orthofeet is regarded by millions as the WORLD'S MOST COMFORTABLE and stylish orthopedic shoes. Try RISK FREE: Walk COMFORTABLY and PAIN FREE or Your MONEY BACK. 60-day wear test. FREE shipping and returns.
- PLANTAR FASCIITIS? HEEL PAIN? FOOT PAIN? NEUROPATHY? Orthofeet orthotic shoes offer the BEST ORTHOPEDIC SHOE solution. Lightweight SOLE with ERGONOMIC design and SUPERIOR CUSHIONING along with premium ORTHOTIC INSOLES that feature ANATOMICAL ARCH SUPPORT and multiple CUSHIONING layers provide soft, PILLOW-LIKE SUPPORT that works wonders to enhance COMFORT and EASE PAIN on the FOOT and HEEL, all the way up your KNEES, HIPS and LOWER BACK caused by flat feet, overpronation and arthritis.
- EXTENDED WIDTHS - These SUPER COMFORTABLE men’s casual shoes with soft, non-binding uppers are available in Medium, Wide and Extra Wide widths, offering a PERFECT FIT. The UNIQUE THERAPEUTIC DESIGN helps alleviate stress on the joints, enhances stability and substantially improves the ease of walking.
- SENSITIVE FEET? DIABETES? ARTHRITIS? NEUROPATHY? Soft uppers with smooth interior lining and extra foam padding provide SUPERIOR COMFORT and protection for sensitive feet and an ideal footwear solution as men’s diabetic shoes, men’s arthritis shoes and men’s shoes for neuropathy.
- BUNIONS? HAMMERTOES? A wide & roomy TOE BOX offers a comfortable, non-binding fit for the front part of the foot and toes, and eases pressure on bunions, hammertoes Morton’s Neuroma & swollen feet. ORTHOTIC FRIENDLY: Extra depth design with removable insoles (¼” thick in the forefoot area) provides ample space for custom made orthotics.
Finding the right shoes for you that can alleviate pain could be quite challenging, so spend some time to think what type of shoes would fit your needs best. If you are not sure what the best shoes for you are, ask your healthcare professional to help you.
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