Are Your Shoes Causing Your Back Pain?

If you’re looking for an easy way to improve the health of yours spine, then look no further than what you wear on your feet!

What have your shoes got to do with your back? Our Bournemouth chiropractor explains here…

Shoes are the only contact between you and the ground. So they support your entire body! Just like a tyre  supports a car, your shoes are there to provide for your stability, your comfort and your posture. Good shoes can put you on the path to good health for your spine. Let’s take a look at each of these things a little further:

Comfort

Imagine the discomfort of having to walk around barefooted on a concrete floor for all day. This would feel a lot different to wearing shoes – because there is nothing to cushion your feet against the jarring of a solid surface. And with every step, the impact would travel to your spine. That would not feel very comfortable because nothing is cushioning you against the jarring of the hard surface. Over time, these shock waves will cause pain in the discs, joints, and ligaments of your spine.

Most high-heeled shoes, cowboy boots, and sandals do not provide an adequate cushion for your feet. So before you give in to the temptation of those drop-dead gorgeous skyscraper heels, spare a thought for your spine!

Stability

Your shoes need to be supportive. If your feet are wobbling or slipping, the extra movement leaves your spine trying to maintain its balance. Something as simple was walking around should not be a balancing act that sets your body up for injury.

Flip-flops are especially unstable. Because just like their name suggests, they make your heel flip and flop around. A good shoe always controls the heel with a strap or a cup. When your heel is stabilised, your shoes provide a solid foundation for the entire spine.  

Posture

When was the last time you checked your posture?  Start by checking your feet.

Wearing high-heels unnaturally places your heels above your toes. And even the slightest adjustment to your feet can throw off your body’s alignment. Your spine is vulnerable because it has specially designed curves that evenly spread out your weight. But high heels alter these curves, and eventually, this bad posture places too much uneven wear on the discs, the joints, and the ligaments of the spine.

Choose your footwear wisely. Your shoes can go a long way in determining the health of your spine.