If You Experience Back Pain, You'll Want These Doctor-Approved Sandals (2023)

FAQs

What are the best shoes to wear to avoid back pain? ›

Running shoes are some of the best shoes to wear when experiencing back pain, even if you do not run. These shoes are lightweight and designed with pressure zones within them, so every step is evenly distributed throughout the feet. Over time, that minimizes pressure on the lower back.

Podiatrists usually recommend sandals with thick soles that have ankle straps and arch support. You'll want to avoid flat sandals with a thin bottom as they're more likely to harm the soles of your feet.

A popular way to prevent back pain and improving posture is by wearing a back brace. Back braces hold up your back in the best position, preventing strain while you're sitting and standing. Back braces are perfect to wear while you're at work, exercising, and for a variety of other situations.

"Asics Gel-Nimbus shoes are my personal favorite for plantar fasciitis," raves Pidich. "They contain extra cushioning and added support around the arch." They also absorb shock in the heel with their gel panels. Plus, the rounded toe shape creates a spacious toe box for those with wide feet.

Orthopedic shoes are shoes that help pain relief. For back pain, these are the following options: Rocker soles (including Joya or Skechers), sports shoes (such as running shoes or tennis shoes with cushioned soles), sandals with toe room and support like Birkenstocks and more.

The Best Shoe Brands for Arthritis

Clark's, Vionic, Orthofeet, and Klogs are some of the brands both recommended by members the CreakyJoints community and approved by the foot experts we talked to. Mephisto, Drew, and Ecco are other good options.

"They're really good for if you have a flat foot or you have arch pain because they have a supportive longitudinal arch. But I would recommend them to most people — unless you have some kind of severe ailment that obviously needs a more personalized approach."

Birkenstock sandals are podiatrist-approved and highly favored for their built-in arch support and cushioning.

Orthotic sandals are designed with a very supportive and comfortable footbed, and are usually recommended for feet ailments such as plantar fasciitis (arch/heel pain).

Back pain can range from a muscle aching to a shooting, burning or stabbing sensation. Also, the pain can radiate down a leg. Bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking can make it worse.

What can I buy for severe back pain? ›

Skechers Arch Fit

Discover the ultimate comfort solution with podiatrist-certified arch support developed using over 20 years of data. Footwear in our Arch Fit collection features a removable, supportive cushioning insole system for a more comfortable walking experience.

“New Balance shoes offer excellent support for the heel, arch, and forefoot,” Tyler Miranda, DPM, a New York-based podiatrist, says. “They also have a wide toe box, which is especially important for people who need extra space to avoid friction and pressure on bunions and hammer toes.”

Are Hokas good for your feet? They're not just great for workouts. Dr. Jacqueline Sutera, a New York City-based podiatrist says that they provide comfort, support and shock absorption, which makes them a good choice for frequent walkers or anyone whose job requires them to stand for the majority of the day.

”Crocs are soft, which make people's backs feel better,” says Dr. Frank Cobarrubia, a Bend podiatrist. ”The people who typically claim that their back pain is reduced stand all day.” He likens the benefit of Crocs to that of rubberized mats often used in work area where people stand for long periods of time.

Orthopaedic shoes are shoes that are specifically designed to support or accommodate the mechanics and structure of the foot, ankle and leg and they have a number of medically beneficial features and functions that separate them from everyday footwear.

When it comes to back pain, the footwear you choose has a strong influence. Choosing footwear that is supportive, comfortable or recommended by doctors can help to reduce the amount of pain you feel day to day. Wear high heels and flip flops sparingly, and reach for supportive tennis shoes to elevate the pain.

Sleep on your back

The position in which you sleep can be one of the most important factors in managing back pain at night. Sleeping on your back is often the ideal position to reduce back pain, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

People with osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine may want to avoid deep bending at the waist or deep twisting. People with cervical spine osteoarthritis should avoid putting extra pressure on the head and neck, such as doing as headstands in yoga classes.

What exercises should I avoid with arthritis in my spine? ›

High impact exercises, such as jogging and high-impact aerobics, can put pressure on a disc and cause more injury. Also, avoid movements that cause twisting, such as golf, as it can up back pain pressure. Try this instead: Water aerobics or yoga.

Best Birkenstock Alternatives 2022: Tevas, L.L. Bean Sandals and Clogs – Rolling Stone. Music.

Custom Molded Foot Orthotics and Custom Molded Birkenstock® Sandals are biomechanical medical appliances designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position. The custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot by redirecting and reducing certain motion that takes place during the gait cycle.

It can take time for your foot to adjust to the contours of the footbed, and for the cork/latex to flex and mould. Ideally an hour or two at a time until you feel comfortable to increase to a longer period.

So they help ensure a professional appearance and convey a sense of competence and seriousness. In many medical professions, closed shoes or clogs with heel straps are mandatory for good reason. This prevents the foot from sliding out of the heel cup and provides firm support.

They lack heel support

“Crocs are backless and do not support or control the heel,” Weiser adds. As a result, you could develop heel pain and tendonitis of the heel. The lack of heel support can make it more difficult to maintain stability as you walk, so you may be more likely to trip or fall.

Unlike their foot-unfriendly cousin, the flip-flop, they offer enough support for you to walk around 'in em all day long... without messing with your feet, back, and body. “When a patient comes in wearing a Teva, I give them a big thumbs up," says podiatrist Doug Tumen, DPM, FACFAS.

Wearing orthopedic shoes can feel cumbersome and restrict your foot's natural range of motion, which can make it difficult to perform certain activities and cause fatigue. People who don't need orthopedic shoes may be tempted to buy them based on the belief that they will improve their foot health.

They reduce pronation and correct abnormal foot positioning. These shoes have been shown to reduce foot, knee and lower back pain. Podiatrists can now prescribe Vionic shoes for conditions like plantar fasciitis. They provide extra support to decrease pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament.

Strains and sprains: Back strains and sprains are the most common cause of back pain. You can injure muscles, tendons or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting safely. Some people strain their back by sneezing, coughing, twisting or bending over.

What are the 3 categories of back pain? ›

“Red flags” include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly ...

If you're experiencing back pain when sitting, your impulse may be to lie down and then try to slowly progress back to sitting, says Dr. Atlas. But this is the wrong approach. You should lie down to relieve the pain, but the goal should be not to return to sitting, but rather to regain your ability to stand and move.

Walking, swimming, and biking may all help reduce back pain. Start with short sessions and build up over time. If your back is hurting, try swimming, where the water supports your body. Avoid any strokes that twist your body.

Skechers Glide Step shoe

This lace-up shoe is made of breathable mesh and has a removable Skechers Arch Fit insole. It comes recommended by Evans and even has a podiatrist-designed shape to give you the most comfortable fit for all-day wear.

Since 1825, Clarks has put comfort first when designing sophisticated shoes for women, men, and kids. All of their shoes are built with Ortholite cushioning, which helps reduce foot strain and absorbs impact. They're also breathable and flexible, and use sustainable, recycled materials.

Doctors of podiatric medicine are health care professionals trained for both palliative and surgical care of the foot and ankle. They also are fully qualified to recommend selection of the right pair of shoes, or address other aspects of foot health, for all members of the family.

Podiatrists usually recommend sandals with thick soles that have ankle straps and arch support. You'll want to avoid flat sandals with a thin bottom as they're more likely to harm the soles of your feet.

What do Podiatrists say about zero drop shoes? ›

"The most commonly advocated benefit is that barefoot or zero drop shoes encourage less dependency on shoe gear and more reliance on strong muscles of the feet and legs, which in theory will help improve body posture, stride, and performance overall," says Dr. Cunha.

Our Contoured Footbed Encourages Foot Health

The Birkenstock footbed is made of resilient cork/latex and is shaped to create a healthy walking environment for your feet. Additionally, the cork/latex blend is pliable and reacts to natural body warmth.

Resultantly, the researchers concluded that running in Hoka One One or other maximalist running shoes may increase the risk of injury due to the fact that running in them subjected the legs to higher and faster forces and altered foot and ankle motion.

“It's a comfort thing but also a form thing. People are wearing them because it's stylish and trendy.” It's true that, as unlikely as it may have seemed a few years ago, Hokas are stylish and trendy.

Hoka's bulky silhouette helped it stand out with marathoners. “That chunky heel says to people 'that's the shoe I can wear and run long distance and not get hurt,' Sole said. As Hoka became popular with marathoners, more casual runners began to see them in the wild and opted to buy the shoes.

Studies suggest that unstable shoes—like flip-flops—can lead to low back pain. Podiatrists agree that footwear that's less than supportive can contribute to back discomfort. Dr. Velimir Petkov, D.P.M., of Premier Podiatry in Clifton, NJ, explains how something as simple as flip-flops can trigger back pain.

If you choose shoes that don't offer adequate support or place too much pressure on one part of your foot, the vertebrae in your spine may soon become misaligned. Misalignments, called "subluxations" by chiropractors, cause back and neck pain, muscle tension, spasms, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

While running or walking shoes are typically the best option for back pain, there are some sandals, boots, or other shoes that provide the right cushioning and support. Since there's a variety of shoes, there's also a big range of prices, so you could expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $160 for a high-quality pair.

Flip flops and many other sandals lack proper support for your feet and lower back in a number of ways. For one, your foot is not really “contained” and therefore, you tend to take shorter steps which alters your gait and shifts the way your hips move. This can cause strain and misalignment of the hips and lower back.

Are Crocs good for lower back pain? ›

”Crocs are soft, which make people's backs feel better,” says Dr. Frank Cobarrubia, a Bend podiatrist. ”The people who typically claim that their back pain is reduced stand all day.” He likens the benefit of Crocs to that of rubberized mats often used in work area where people stand for long periods of time.

Whether your gait abnormalities are due to genetics or you developed the condition after years of wearing inappropriate footwear, orthopedic shoe inserts often can help relieve your back pain.

Worst: Flat Shoes

This impact pressure builds over time and your hips and lower back take the brunt of it. The lack of padding and arch support will also cause the ligaments and tendons in your feet to overstretch. This all cumulates to produce more problems for your back and can lead to overall body pain.

Flip-flops may not only provoke your sciatica, but they're also associated with a number of foot and ankle problems. Because of this, it's a smart idea to give up flip-flops altogether.

Walking for long periods of time on hard surfaces with no shoes can lead to increased callus growth that can become painful over time, but can also lead to back pain due to a lack of shock absorption at your feet. The hard shock of every step can reverberate to your spine.

Shoes rub heels and ankles due to the friction created between the lining of shoes and the skin on the achilles and ankle. This friction is created when walking and is exacerbated by factors including sock material and thickness, shape of a shoe's topline, material of shoe lining, and shoe tightness.

Multiple studies have compared the biomechanics of walking/running gait in individuals with and without low back pain, with mixed findings. This systematic review/meta-analysis demonstrated that compared to back-healthy people, people with persistent low back pain walk more slowly and take smaller steps.

Wearing the wrong type of shoes can definitely make your sciatica worse. Two of the worst kinds of footwear for sciatica are high heels and shoes with no cushion (including flip flops.) Instead, wear shoes that provide support for your feet.