I have a bad back. My mom is very adamant about the fact that my shoes are very much a part of the problem.
How much of an impact do shoes really have on your back? What are some of the best brands or types of footwear that would be most conducive to the maintenance of a healthy back? Why does my back suck the way it does?
(3rd question rhetorical, borne of pit-worthy frustration {which I’ll save for a more appropriate time and forum))
My back is much better when I wear shoes that have some cushion. The worst are wing-tip type shoes that have a hard leather sole. As a bad-back/knees sufferer for over 15 years I can tell you shoes can make a HUGE difference.
Your mom is right. Shoes do make a difference. So does standing on hard floors for a long period of time with no cushioning.
Buy good quality shoes that are wide enough for your feet. If you are female, save the heels for special occasions. Heels not only ruin your back, they can really screw up your feet too, permanently.
It could be your feet or legs and just incidentally your shoes (not compensating for your abnormality or augmenting it). If you have some structural defect of your feet, that can cause a chain reaction all the way up to your back. (Flat feet, supination, etc.) Also if the Q-angle of your legs is not normal, that can cause back problems. “Q” stands for quadriceps and is the angle formed by your quadriceps in relation to your spine. (Bowlegs, knocknees, etc.) Many back pains can be found to be caused by something other than the back. On the other hand, it could be your back.
My advice is to have an orthopedic guy look at you: see the way you stand, walk, etc. He may be able to tell by his clinical findings if you have a back problem. (If not, he can order x-rays.) I would further recommend a sports orthopedist since they are quite familiar with back pain caused by lower extremity abnormalities, which are aggravated by running.
My mom is gloating even as I type.
barbitu8 I’ve had surgery (a diskectomy) about 5 years ago. I’m pretty sure my current problem is related to that.
As it is summer, I currently wear Birkenstocks. My mom has said that New Balance makes a good quality sneaker with an arch. I prefer casual shoes to sneakers but I’d like to hear as much as anyone knows about the quality of specific brands of shoes, sneakers, and other types of footwear.
I have about two dozen running shoes, several tennis shoes, and several cross countries. I get along with any make of shoe. I can’t recommend a specific shoe unless I know what you need. They sell arch supports in the drugstore. Adidas makes the highest arch support. Some running shoes (please, not “sneakers”) are built for stability, over-pronation, cushioning, etc. New Balance makes shoes in different widths. Several other companies do too now, but NB was the first. Go to http://www.runnersworld.com/
and click on the Shoes in the left column. They can tell you a lot more than I can, with expert advice. But you have to know what you need. They also have a message board with a forum called “Shoes.” You can join and ask questions there on shoes.
I have had a bad back since a motorcycle accident 17 years ago and have aggravated it with work injuries.
The best shoes I have found for my back (and feet) are Red Wing’s Comfort Force line.
Oh man! Red Wings rule! Lots of my friends were wearing them and told me about how comfortable they are - I finally broke down and bought a pair (they are somewhat expensive) and was thrilled. After they are good and broken in it is like wearing a pair of high top tennis shoes (I really need ankle support and these provide great support). I bougt my first pair and wore them until they looked so bad my wife yelled at me for wearing them then went and bought the exact same style again. Go to http://redwingshoes.com/product_search_main.html and search for BOOT TYPE = “Pull On” to see styles similar to the ones I wear.
I’ve got bad joints, flat feet and back problems from the previous two.
I prefer to spend the money on good shoes that are comfortable and that have some (but not a lot of) arch support. I generally wear Nike running shoes because I’ve found them to be the most comfortable, but I also have a pair of Easy Spirit sandals that I wear with dresses. If I’m in a situation where I need to wear dress shoes, like to a wedding or wherever, I wear the running shoes and change there. That way, I’m not looking at having to wear uncomfortable shoes longer than I have to.
Robin