- By Mark
- Expert
You are probably wondering if your shoes are either increasing or causing your back pain which you can liken to the chicken and egg problem.Everything in the body is connected and then, supported by the feet.
Anything affecting the feet is sure to affect the back too. Back pain is mainly caused by factors including heavy lifting, weight issues, sedentary lifestyle, poor posture and lack of exercise.
Because we know that being a back-pain sufferer, the right shoes would make a lot of difference, we’ve done our homework and hand-picked the best shoes for you.
Our Top Pick for Guys: Best Men’s Shoe for Back Pain
The Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker is an excellent shoe choice for back pain that justifies its price by providing every inch of support for your arches, offering versatility and durability along with its comfort.
The presence of dynamic fluid units in the front foot and heel area provides a perfect shock absorber for the feet and HydroFlow technology that improves the cushioning in the midsoles.
What is excellent about these shoes is the feel and fit of a running shoe that’s designed for walking to give you a controlled, smooth and easy walking experience.
Our Top Pick for Women: Best Women’s Shoe for Back Pain
The Brooks Women’s Ghost 9 is from the Ghost series of the Brooks brand and was named the best-buy in the Runner’s World 2016 Fall Shoe Guide. The Women’s Ghost 9 offers amazing features either for going out for a run or just taking a walk.
These shoes not only look good, but are also relatively affordable.
If you need to be on your feet for long stretches and suffer from intolerable pain, these are the shoes that won’t embarrass you.
The presence of dynamic fluid units in the front foot and heel area provides a perfect shock absorber for the feet and HydroFlow technology that improves the cushioning in the midsoles.
What is excellent about these shoes is the feel and fit of a running shoe that’s designed for walking to give you a controlled, smooth and easy walking experience.
Best Shoes for Back Pain in the Market
Arch and Heel Support
Before getting those shoes, confirm that the arch support is positioned exactly where you need it (should be placed in the midsole section). Find out the type of foot arch you have, if you’ve a high arch, you’re more prone to problems involving overpronation and if you’ve a low arch, you’re likely to have underpronation problems. Heel support can also be found in the midsole or outsole regions for support and shock absorb.
Breathability
Go for shoes with mesh uppers or side perforations which allow for ventilation that would dry and cool your feet while also protecting your feet from foul odours and blisters caused by sweating.
Cushioning
This is not only important in the insoles, midsoles and outsoles for preventing feet injuries but would also protect your ankles, legs and back. Shock might not be eliminated but it’s reduced and more is preventing from travelling to your back from your legs hence, reducing pains. Not all shoes would have the insoles or midsoles cushioned but you’d need arch support especially if your heel suffers a lot of painful impact.
Durability
It’s better to invest in shoes that would give you value for your money and last longer over time. Rubber/synthetic outsoles are more durable and a breathable mesh with synthetic/leather overlays would protect your shoes from wear and tear.
Flexibility
Go for shoes that are strong enough to support you and flexible enough to allow natural foot movements. Shoes that are flexible would protect your feet from discomfort and injuries.
Grip/Traction
Shoes with good traction or good grip on the ground would prevent you from having falls or painful slips which in turn prevents back pain. Go for shoes that have patterns or outsoles that allow water slip through them to protect you from slipping. Shoes with diverse tread patterns are far better than having flat outsoles.
Purpose
It’s important to note that every shoe has specific purposes it’s for. If you’re always hiking, you’d need to get shoes that have more ankle and under feet support and if you’re always running on hard concrete surfaces, you’d need to get shoes with extra cushioning for support, weight distribution and shock absorption.
What's the Best Shoes for Back Pain you can buy?
Best Shoes for Back Pain in the Market
Specification
- Brand: BROOKS
- Arc Support: Neutral
- Heel to Toe Drop:
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Release Date: December 21, 2002
The Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker is one of the coolest creations by Brooks made with back pain sufferers in mind. It’s constructed out of full grain leather that would supply you with a lot of cushioning and help to deflect impact away from your body. It also comes with a removable cushion insole that you could replace with your own custom orthotics.
It’s like a support system for your entire body that helps place your body strategically, gives you arch support and helps to manage over-pronation of your feet as you go about your daily activities. It has a slip resistant, environmental friendly outsole that is superb on wet or dry surfaces.
Priced around $140, this shoe is worth every penny as it gives you the needed support and comfort for your feet and back.
Pros
- Medically approved
- For flat feet or overweight persons
- Quite comfortable
- Good motion control.
Cons
- Heavy
Specification
- Brand: BROOKS
- Arc Support: Neutral
- Heel to Toe Drop:
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Release Date:June 20, 2016
The Brooks Women’s Ghost 9 is from the Ghost series of the Brooks brand and in their neutral line-up as well. It was named the best-buy in the Runner’s World 2016 Fall Shoe Guide.
The extra cushioning adapts with every step you take and hence, gives plenty of energy in return. The Ghost 9 for women also supports soft landing and are very comfortable even when you’re running.
They’re pretty protected around the ankle area which does a great job by keeping the rocks out. If you’ve flat feet which overpronate, these shoes would be supportive and comfortable for your entire feet.
The Brooks Ghost 9 for women are also really light and have a great bounce to them.
Pros
- Extra cushioning for comfort
- Ample support for stability
- Extra breathability
Cons
- Midsole offset is a bit higher
- Less flexible compared to other minimalist shoes
Specification
- Brand: DR. COMFORT
- Arc Support: Neutral
- Heel to Toe Drop:
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Release Date: February 27, 2014
The Dr. Comfort Ranger boots are amazingly comfortable and lightweight. The shoes usually comes with two kinds of inserts, one flat and the other orthopaedic which is an amazing extra touch. You could also make use of your own custom orthotics as well, especially if you have severely flat feet.
Even at the price of $150, they’re sure worth the cost as they also work great for very sensitive feet in diabetic patients, who must have developed painful sores thereby making walking comfortable. If you have neuropathy or any discomfort in the case of diabetes, you should consider getting these.
They have two colour options, black and chestnut, both of high quality and stylish outlook. They also come with an elastic no-tie lace which makes taking them off quite easy.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Stylish appearance
Cons
- Not water-resistant
- Costly
- Not built for rough terrains
Specification
- Brand: ORTHOFEET
- Arc Support: Neutral
- Heel to Toe Drop:
- Weight:
- Release Date: November 30, 2016
Orthofeet orthotic shoes helps in improving mobility and enhancing comfort from heel to toe especially if you’re suffering from Plantar Fasciitis or you have a hammer toe as they help relieve pain in the heel and foot making every step you take to be as soothing as possible.
Even for bad arches and ankles, theses shoes would give you a perfect fit due to the arch support and the shoe profile around the ankle area is quite comfortable.
The support is amazing giving no room for pinching or pain around the ankle, arch and big toe areas of your feet.
For an asking price of $194, you wouldn’t regret getting these athletic shoes as they have a super comfortable cushioned feel on the inside and a bright stylish look on the outside.
Pros
- Alleviates foot pain
- Prevents bacterial infections
- Prevents foot diseases
Cons
- Short laces
Specification
- Brand: ASICS
- Arc Support:
- Heel to Toe Drop:
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Release Date: November 17, 2009
ASICS Gel Kayano 24 is considerably one of the best shoes that are good for your back and knees. They provide a lot of cushioning and support in the heel area.
At the price of $250, you’re sure to get a perfect fit, comfort, support and excellent quality. With the new styles available, they’re classy and would still come off professional.
These shoes have great responsiveness, breathability and flexibility with very comfortable uppers and works well for a long run, giving great stability and support for runners no matter the distance or while working out on the treadmill at the gym. They’re great for wide and flat feet and have extra support for overpronators.
Pros
- Good shock absorber
- Breathable with good ventilation
- Excellent traction
- A perfect fit
Cons
- Heavy
- Costly
- Not really fascinating colours
Specification
- Brand: SAUCONY
- Arc Support: Neutral
- Heel to Toe Drop:
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Release Date: September 1, 2016
If you’re looking for a good run on sandy trails and hills, these women guide shoes are your best bet as their shock absorption is top-notch. If you’re an overpronator, you’d definitely need the high arch support these shoes offer.
They cost around $160 but surely worth it for that great comfy feeling when you run.
Pros
- Perfect for daily running
- Quite comfortable
- Great on treadmills
Cons
- Small sizes
- Narrow toe box
These men’s running shoes compete with other brands in comfort and quality. It’s elastic, breathable and would adjust to the size and shape of your feet.
At a price of $300, they not only come in beautiful and fresh designs but also make walking and running a comfortable ride.
Pros
- Cool designs with many colour options
- Very comfortable
- Perfect for long runs
Cons
- Cushioning doesn’t last long
- Quite expensive
Conclusion
I could go on and on in a long-winded diatribe about the perfect shoe for the perfect situation, but if you’re looking for the best shoes for back pain, Brooks is the brand to keep in mind. Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker is an excellent shoe choice for men and Brooks Women’s Ghost 9 is an excellent shoe choice for women. Good luck and may this be the end of your search for comfort and relief from pain.
