The Right Shoes For Back Pain Management

Footwear is one of the many possible causes of back pain. Because the body is a system of intricately connected parts, a problem in one area can cause problems in another.

There are a few ways in which your shoes and back pain may be related. One is simply having worn-out shoes. With every step you take, you transfer force to the ground; the ground in turn reciprocates a force on your body. Though this force is generally mild while walking, a long day on your feet can lead to jarring of the spine and other joints if there is nothing between your feet and the ground to cushion the shock.

It is also important to make sure you have the right kind of cushioning for your body. Understanding a few body mechanics basics is necessary in order to make the right shoe purchase. The ideal step occurs with the heel contacting the ground, rolling forward and transferring weight across the arch to the bigger toes. These toes push off to propel you forward. This motion allows you to take a step with efficiency.

Steps become inefficient when the foot rolls inward or outward. When the foot rolls inward, flattening out the arch and transferring force mainly to the biggest toe, this is called over-pronation. With the arch flattened and the weight ending up on the inside of the big toe, the foot cannot push off the ground with optimum force.

The hips and lower back must come to the assistance of the foot by swinging the leg forward. If these muscles are being used with every step, they can become strained, as well as the tendons and ligaments of the lower body. This can cause knee, hip and lower back pain.

Supination is the opposite of over-pronation; it occurs when your weight is transferred along the outside of your foot, leaving you to push off with your smallest toe. This makes for an inefficient push-off, along with strain to the ankle, knee and hip joints. As with over-pronation, supination forces the lower back and hips to swing the leg forward in order to take a step.

To see if your step suffers from either over-pronation or supination, grab an old pair of shoes that has been worn in and assess the wear pattern on the bottom and/or inside. You can also place them on a flat surface pointing away from you and see if they tilt inward or outward.

People with over-pronation benefit most from shoes with good arch supports. This will counteract the arch's tendency to flatten out. Supinators need shoes with cushioning in the middle of the sole; this can help balance the foot. If you have an especially high arch, you may need custom shoes. People without supination or over-pronation simply need shoes that can cushion their feet throughout the day. Keep your activity level and the surfaces on which you walk in mind when purchasing shoes.