Back pain can be attributed to many different causes, the shoes you wear believe it or not can be the cause of your back pain. If your feet aren’t getting the correct type of support from your shoes, it can lead to the rest of your body being impacted. Depending on the anatomy of your foot, some shoes are good for you, and some you should refrain from wearing. This is because the positioning of your feet impacts how your joints are lined up in the rest of the body, specifically in the lower back, so if you are not getting support from your shoes, the rest of your body will be impacted. Continue reading below to learn more.
A lot of different lifestyle factors can contribute to back pain. However, there are so many factors that it can be difficult to pin point the exact reason. The reason for your back pain can be something obvious or something not so obvious. Let’s take the shoes that you wear. Believe it or not, shoes impact your spinal health more than you may think.
When assessing if your shoes are the cause of your back pain, you must first look at your feet. You need to look at the anatomy of your foot, do you have high arches, low arches, are your feet turned more inwards or outwards, etc. The positioning of your feet impacts how your joints are lined up in the rest of the body, specifically in the lower back. Therefore, if your feet are receiving the wrong type of support from your shoes, then the joints in the rest of your body are going to be impacted. This is why a proper assessment of your feet can help to gather a better idea of whether or not your shoes are the culprit. Once you figure out more about your anatomy, you need to look at your shoe choice. Some shoes are better than others, while others are so bad you really shouldn’t wear them—ever.
Here is a bit of a break down of each type of shoe and their impact on the spine:
High heels: High heels are either worn on special occasions or maybe even daily to work. But the thing about heels, depending on their height, they are the worst type of shoe for your back. The higher the heel and the thinner the heel will lead to an increase pressure on the spine. This over time will cause significant back pain, not to mention the risk of injuring your ankle. If heels are required for your job or you prefer them over other shoes, just consider starting to lower the height of them. Even that small change can help improve back health.
Flip flops: Flip flops are shoes that are the most common choice, especially in the summer or warmer weather days. However, these shoes should not be your “go to” everyday shoe due to the fact that they lack the proper support. If you truly look at your flip flops, you will see that they are thin and flat. They give little to no support for the feet and therefore impact the joints in your back. If you want to wear flips, opt for a sandal that has arch support and cushioning.
Dress shoes: These shoes commonly have some sort of heel to them as well, so these too can lead to additional back pain. However, it is understandable that these shoes may be a requirement for your career. If that is the case than it is all about modification and finding the best case scenario. Look for a shoe with adequate arch support and a low heel.
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Original article published on atlanticwellnessandspinecenter.com