There is a likelihood you will suffer from back pain at some point in your life. Back pains range from a small sharp pain or a dull ache that persists all day. While a lot of factors such as poor body posture and lack of exercise cause back pain, sore feet, and uncomfortable shoes are the major causes of back pain.
As such, choosing the best shoes for back pain will help you keep your back pain at bay. But the question remains: how do you choose the best shoes for back pain from the numerous shoes on the market?
Contents
- 1 Top 7 best shoes for back pain 2021
- 2 How to choose the best shoes for back pain?
- 3 FAQs best shoes for back pain
- 4 Conclusion
Top 7 best shoes for back pain 2021
1. Brooks Men’s Ghost 11
This shoe brand features a highly engineered mesh on its upper unit. This mesh is lightweight and highly breathable. The result of this upper mesh design is a fresh and dry foot. Also, it reduces shoe weight. The upper mesh is smooth, soft and stretchable, thereby wrapping your foot with zero irritation. This shoe features a lace-up closure.
It has a nicely padded tongue that secures your foot from sliding from side to side. When it comes to combating all the shocks at the heel section, this shoe features an external heel counter. A high-quality synthetic material comprises the shoe’s heel counter. The midsole unit of this shoe brand comes with excellent cushioning materials to combat all the shocks that might cause back pain.
The BioMoGo DNA foam in the midsole unit is fully responsive and absorbs all the shocks during heel to toe rides and hard landings. Besides, this midsole material is eco-friendly. The midsole also has Omega flex grooves along the sides of the forefoot. They give the shoe the right amount of flexibility for a smooth transition.
The outsole unit also provides excellent cushioning and protection against dangers on the trail. There are two rubber types on the outsole unit- the blown rubber on the forefoot and the carbon rubber on the heel section.
The blown rubber is flexible and responsive, giving you a pleasant toe-off phase. The carbon rubber, on the other hand, is durable, making the shoe to last long. Also, the sole unit has two units of crash pads- the all-new DNA Loft crash pad and the classic segmented crash pad. As such, this shoe will combat all the shocks that might inflict back pain.
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2. ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 24
This shoe brand also has a highly engineered mesh that comprises its upper unit. This upper mesh is textile-made, which makes it durable. It’s also breathable to permit air circulation. Your foot will, therefore, be fresh and dry throughout your running experience. This mesh fits and wraps the top foot with zero irritation, thanks to the FluidFit technology it features.
This shoe brand features a lace-up closure to secure your foot. It also features a padded tongue that protects your foot from irritation when you tighten the shoelace. It has another brilliant feature- the Ortholite X-40 sockliner. This feature lies in the underfoot to stave off sweat and moisture, and also to prevent bad foot odour.
The upper unit features an excellent cushioning material- the Personal Heel Fit (PHF). This material is a two-layered memory foam that cushions the collar of the shoe. Your ankle and top part of the heel will, therefore, receive efficient cushioning from pain.
The midsole unit also has numerous cushioning materials. As a result, this pair of shoes will alleviate your back pain. The midsole unit is FlyteFoam-made. The midsole is, therefore, responsive and absorbs all the shocks, keeping your back pain-free. Also, the midsole unit features rearfoot and forefoot gel cushioning materials. It will, therefore, absorb all the shocks during foot strikes for comfortable steps.
Besides cushioning the foot excellently, the midsole unit is lightweight, thanks to its FluidRide technology. The midsole unit is soft and comfortable since it also features the SpevaFoam, alongside other brilliant cushioning materials. The outsole unit is rubber-made and has excellent traction. Two specially-crafted rubbers comprise the outsole unit of these shoes- the AHAR and DuraSponge rubber.
The AHAD rubber is durable and delivers impressive traction on all terrains. The DuraSponge rubber, on the other hand, delivers a stretchable ride with good balance. Also, the sole unit has a rear foot crash pad that guarantees a smooth heel-to-toe transition during running exercises.
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3. Adidas Originals Men’s Ultraboost
This shoe type uses Adidas’s special primeknit breathable mesh in the upper unit. This upper mesh is one-piece, making you have a hassle-free shoe entry. Also, it features a lace-up closure to secure your foot once you’ve worn it. The one-piece mesh is highly breathable and is textile-made for a comfortable wearing experience. The eyelets design is state-of-the-art, and they extend from the sole unit to give you a secure fit design.
For proper fit, the upper mesh has multiple stretching points. Due to its softness, the upper mesh hugs the top of your foot like a second skin! The midsole unit of these shoes offers a robust design. This design guarantees excellent shock absorption functionality and a responsive ride. The midsole unit packs 3,000 blown TPU energy capsules or pellets.
These pellets lock themselves together and absorb all the impacts from the strides or steps you make. The same pellets then convert the energy from the impact into responsive energy that gives you proper bounciness. Maneuvering challenging terrains is, therefore, hassle-free with this shoe. Besides absorbing all the shocks under your foot, the midsole unit also provides torsional stability. Therefore, this product alleviates all types of back pain.
A high-quality continental rubber material goes into the construction of the outsole unit of this shoe brand. The outsole unit features a stretchvweb design that maximizes the power of each stride you make. Due to the stretchweb design of the outsole unit, this shoe offers extraordinary traction on all surfaces. Also, the outsole is flexible to allow you to run as natural as possible.
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4.HOKA ONE ONE Men’s Clifton 4 Running Shoe
Here is another shoe brand that has a synthetic-made and highly engineered mesh in the upper unit. This mesh makes the upper unit to be breathable, which means you will have a fresh and dry foot. The upper mesh is elastic to embrace the natural shape of your foot. The upper unit also features a 3D Puff Print Frame that maintains the shape of the shoe.
This frame also locks your foot down exceptionally well for excellent fit and a secure walking or running experience. To make the fit more secure, this shoe brand features a lace-up closure. It also features an Ortholite sockliner that gives your foot comfort. Also, the sockliner wicks away moisture and sweat from your foot. Besides, the sockliner fights fungal and bacterial growth.
You will, therefore, end up with a fresh and dry foot without bad odour. The midsole unit of this shoe features a full-length EVA foam that absorbs all the shocks. This cushioning material is also responsive to give you energy return for a pleasant running experience. With the kind of shock absorption functionality that this shoe offers users, it helps alleviate back pains.
The outsole unit also comes in handy to give you excellent traction and protection. A hi-abrasion lightweight rubber goes into the manufacture of this outsole. This outsole material makes the sole unit to give you extraordinary traction and protection from abrasive elements.
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5. Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker
A high-quality full-grain leather makes up the upper unit of this shoe brand. Also, the full-grain leather has a plushy wall inside the shoes, thanks to the soft interior lining. The interior lining is breathable to make your foot very comfortable. This shoe brand also features a lace-up closure that lets you customize the fit. With its well-padded tongue, you can adjust the fit to your preference with zero lacing irritation.
The collar also has sufficient padding to give you more comfort. The padded collar is also plushy to give your ankle extraordinary comfort. The collar also locks down your ankle to prevent in-shoe slips. The midsole unit packs two major cushioning materials to protect your underfoot. One such material is the biodegradable BioMoGo DNA material which maintains the fresh-from-the-box cushioning capability of this shoe for a long time.
Besides features the BioMoGo DNA foam in its design, the midsole unit also features yet another brilliant cushioning material- the DNA compound. The DNA compound has a fluid that changes its viscosity depending on your body weight and the pressure you exert on the midsole unit. The DNA compound reinforces the midsole unit for sturdy and excellent underfoot protection.
This shoe brand also supports the arch, making it ideal for people with flat feet, thanks to its PDRB feature. A high-quality ASTM F489-96-certified slip-resistant compound, which is a synthetic material, comprises the outsole unit of this shoe. The forefoot section of the outsole unit features the MC Pod construction that guarantees sufficient traction on all kinds of terrains. As such, the outsole unit is durable and provides sufficient traction.
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6. Brooks Women’s Ariel ’18
The upper unit of this shoe brand features an all-new engineered mesh. As such, the upper unit is breathable. The upper mesh is also adaptable, which lets it to nicely and securely hug the top of your foot. For more excellent fit adjustability, this shoe brand features a lace-up closure design. The upper unit also boasts of a 3D-printed midfoot saddle that comes in handy when you want to adjust the fit to your preference.
Since the mesh alone isn’t enough to give the upper unit sufficient structural support, this shoe brand has a set of no-sew overlays that reinforce the upper unit. A Stroble lasting stitching design firmly attaches the upper unit to the full-length Cushsole S-257 for durability and excellent comfort.
The midsole unit packs a lot of cushioning material that will absorb all the underfoot shocks. A biodegradable super DNA cushioning material is present in the midsole unit. Since this shoe brand is a motion-control shoe type, it features a unit of triple-density BioMoGo foam to reduce excess foot pronation.
The midsole has another cushioning material- the caterpillar crash pad- to absorb impacts during hard landings. If you have a flat foot, this shoe might be ideal for you. It has a shank-like thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) unit that stabilizes your fallen arch. The midsole unit is also flexible to give your foot the ability to move naturally, thanks to the Omega flex groove that it features.
The outsole unit comprises two highly durable materials- the brand’s special HPR Green material, and the HPR Plus material. Also, the outsole unit features Flextra grooves that make it flexible. The HPR Green is an eco-friendly outsole material that sits on the forefoot section. It offers outsole durability and excellent anti-skid traction. The HPR Plus, on the other hand, sits on the midfoot and rearfoot sections of the outsole unit. The HPR Plus is more durable than its counterpart and is resistant to high abrasion. The outsole unit is, therefore, very durable.
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7. Vionic Women’s Walker
Two high-quality materials feature in the upper unit of this shoe brand. High-quality full-grain leather and polyester mesh are the two materials in question. The leather material gives the upper unit sufficient structural integrity and support. Also, the leather material is water-resistant to keep your foot dry in all weather conditions.
The polyester mesh is breathable to permit air circulation in your shoes. The air circulation improves the in-shoe environment and keeps your foot fresh and dry. The upper unit has the lace-up closure to help you customize the fit.
The midsole unit of this shoe brand is EVA foam-made and features the brand’s special AMS technology. Due to its robust design, the midsole unit attenuates shocks that might cause back pain. People with an overpronated foot can also benefit from the robust design of the midsole unit. The midfoot section of the midsole unit is raised and features a thermoplastic brace that supports the arch of your foot.
The midsole unit has yet another firm thermoplastic component in the heel section to give your foot sufficient stability. Besides, this shoe brand has an Orthaheel insert that supports the arch of your foot further. The Orthaheel insert features an anti-bacterial textile top that fights bad foot odour.
The outsole unit is flexible and durable, thanks to the horizontal flex grooves and the durable rubber compound that it features. Also, the outsole unit has pods with various shapes, sizes and texture to deliver excellent traction at all times. This shoe brand, therefore, will protect your foot and give you sufficient cushioning against all the shocks that might cause back pain.
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How to choose the best shoes for back pain?
If you’re looking to source the best shoes for back pain from the market, you can start by looking out for the following features:
1. Consider the arch support feature
Back pain and arch of the foot correlate. If the arch of your foot doesn’t get sufficient support from your shoes, you will begin experiencing some back pain. You should, therefore, choose a pair of shoes that give you appropriate arch support.
To find the shoes that give you appropriate arch support, you will have to determine the type of your foot arch. Once you’ve done so, you can go right ahead to buy shoes for back pain.
2. Consider the cushioning features
The midsole unit is the part of the shoes that provide efficient cushioning against shocks that might stress your back. As such, you have to choose a pair of shoes whose midsole unit packs excellent shock-absorbing materials such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam or Polyurethane foam.
Shoe brands use a lot of materials and compounds to make the midsole unit. If you want to find shoes with the best midsole, consider your foot arch first. If you have a high arch, it’s best to choose shoes with a softer midsole unit. If you have a low arch, choosing shoes with a firmer midsole unit is ideal. Besides, firmer midsoles provide more motion control.
3. Consider the orthotics of the shoes
The shoes’ orthotics should give you proper arch support as well. Also, you could choose shoes whose orthotics are removable for a comfortable and customizable fit. Choosing an anti-bacterial orthotics is a good idea since it will fight bad foot odour and keep foot sweating at a manageable level.
4. The material of the shoes
The material of use determines the quality that you will get from your shoes. High-quality shoe construction materials guarantee the best shoes for back pain. Some of the materials that you should make sure are in your shoes are leather, suede, synthetics, rubber and EVA foam just to mention a few. If these materials feature in your shoes, you could be in possession of the best shoes for back pain.
5. Find the right shoe size
The right shoe size will improve your body balance as you go about your daily routine in your shoes. Any shoe that doesn’t fit you properly causes stress on your foot muscles. This stress level will then take a significant toll on your health and cause some back pain. Finding the shoes that fit you perfectly is one of the keys to alleviating your back pain.
6. The flexibility of the shoe
The flexibility of the shoes plays a crucial role in keeping your back pain at bay. Flexible shoes let your feet role and move naturally thus reducing the stress on your feet and leg muscles. A reduction of stress on your foot and leg muscles will also reduce back pains. As such, choose a pair of shoes with flex grooves on the outsole unit to give you a flexible and smooth ride.
7. The shoes’ breathability
Any feature that reduces foot stress will help you keep your back pain at minimum levels. Shoe breathability is another brilliant feature that will reduce stress on your feet. Breathable shoes improve air circulation, which in turn lets you have fresh and dry feet in your shoes. In-shoe slips with then reduce and this will cause less stress on your foot muscles.
8. Traction of the shoe
Though it might not seem much of a deal, your shoes’ traction also helps keep your back pain at bay. If the outsole unit features pods that give extraordinary traction on all terrains, you will use less energy and foot muscles to maneuver challenging terrains. Since foot and leg muscles have a connection with your back muscles, you will experience reduced back pains.
FAQs best shoes for back pain
1. Can a pair of shoes cause back pain?
Yes, inappropriate footwear can cause back pain. Also, inappropriate footwear will cause a lot of stress to your foot muscles, resulting in a toll on your back muscles. Remember that your foot and leg muscles correlate with your back muscles. Besides, if a pair of shoes doesn’t have sufficient cushioning materials, it will harm your foot.
2. How do I keep my shoes in good condition?
Keeping your shoes in good condition will ensure their durability. There are a few ways to achieve reasonable shoe durability. You can use a water-protector spray or add a sole protector to your best shoes for back pain. Also, cleaning them regularly to free off accumulated debris is another way of keeping your shoes in good condition.
3. Where can I find a pair of best shoes for back pain?
You can walk right into a shoe store and find the best shoes for back pain of your preference. Buying a pair of shoes from a shoe store is the best option for first-time buyers. This gives you the chance to personally inspect the shoes to cross-check the safety features.
But if you know the brand or type to go for, you could place an order online via a trusted e-commerce website. Online shoe shopping is ideal for customers who live far away from a shoe store.
Conclusion
Selecting the best shoes for back pain is a major stepping stone towards achieving less painful and stressful back muscles. We’ve brought you some of the incredible shoes that could help you have proper body balance and fewer back pains. From our list, you could choose the winner- Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker.
This shoe brand features high-quality shoe construction materials that are eco-friendly. Also, the shoe brand has a robust midsole unit that excellently absorbs all the shocks. It has a soft in-shoe lining and padded collar that gives your foot great comfort and proper foot lockdown. The traction is also excellent if you select this shoe brand. All these brilliant features, among others, make this shoe brand to emerge the winner on the list.
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