The Best Shoes for Back Pain Relief
By Sara Butler
Back pain is very common. You actually have an 80 percent chance of developing back pain at some point in your life. But since you live in an age of technological wonders you have something in your corner to help you cope: Walking shoes. The right kind of footwear can help keep your back pain from rearing its ugly head. Here’s what the chiropractors at The Joint suggest you look for when you buy new walking shoes to keep your back pain under control.
Why Back Pain is so Serious
Back pain is the second biggest reason people seek medical help, and it can have a much larger impact in your life than you may realize. It can impact the spine’s stability, flexibility, and strength, eventually leading to stiffness, discomfort, and pain.
Back pain also leaves many Americans temporarily or chronically disabled. It’s one of the leading causes of disability in the United States today and accounts for a lot of missed work and productivity. People who experience back pain often have:
- Tenderness
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Radiating pain
- Difficulty standing for long periods
- Weakness while walking
Back Pain and Shoes
Shoes can actually be considered a cause of back pain! Your feet are your body’s foundation, and if you have a faulty foundation, then you may notice problems with the stability of the rest of your body. When a pair of poorly designed shoes is worn, then it can impact the entire body and alter alignment, creating joint dysfunction and restrictions.
The kinds of shoes you need to avoid are:
- High heels
- Flip-flops
- Flat shoes with no arch support
If you’re looking for a shoe that will offer good support and help to prevent back pain, you need:
- Motion control – Shoes with adequate motion control will help assist your body in regulating movements of the foot when in motion. Different types of shoes are made for different motions, such as running and walking.
- Proper foot strike – You need shoes that will allow the middle part of your foot to strike the ground, not the heel.
- Additional support – Good support to the feet means less back pain in the long run (or walk).
- Types of materials used – You want materials such as graphite or plastic to be a part of the shoe in order to avoid abnormal motion of the feet.
You may need to work with a professional in order to determine a few things about your feet in order to find the right shoe for you. You need someone to help you understand what type of foot arch you have. You will also want shoes with a snug heel that provides enough room for your toes to be comfortable. Ask your chiropractor at The Joint for some help determining where you can go for help in finding the right shoes to address your back pain.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.