Improper footwear can allow biomechanical abnormalities in the feet to compound and worsen, and therefore lead to increased pain in the knees, hips, and lower back.

Dr. Velimir Petkov, D.P.M. of Premier Podiatry in Clifton, NJ.

Your feet support the weight of your whole body, absorb shocks when you walk and help keep your spine aligned.

When you wear the wrong shoes, your feet do not have enough support and there can be too much pressure on a specific part of your shoe. When that happens, it can lead to misalignments or subluxations of your spine which causes the following:

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Muscle Tension
• Stiffness
• Spams
• Reduced Range of Motion

Let’s look at how shoes can cause back pain.

High heels are very fashionable. However, they’re one of the most common causes for back pain. Why is that? When you wear a pair of high heels, you put a lot of pressure on the front part of your foot. This unnatural position of your foot disrupts the natural curve of your spine as you now tend to tilt your pelvis forward too much. Your posture changes due to that. 

Furthermore, due to this position, you can experience strain in your joints and ligaments of your back as over time, the frequent use of high heels can wear the discs between the vertebrae out. These disks usually help to absorb shock. 

You can also experience knee and muscle pain, Achilles tendons, back pain, lower back pain, and your calf muscles can feel tight. 

Studies have shown that a one-inch Heel increases the pressure on the front part of your foot by 22% and a three-inch heel increases the pressure by 76%. Scary, right?

If you think that opting for flat shoes like flip flops are better, you’re wrong, Surprised? Let’s see why you shouldn’t wear shoes that are way too flat.

The problem with flat shoes is that they do not provide proper arch support. You need shoes with an arch support because it helps to stabilize your feet, legs and spine for proper alignment. Shoes like flip flops are not for everyday wear as they cause more harm than good. 

Flat shoes may feel loose on the feet after a while and you may unconsciously alter your gait so that you can walk. The issue is that this will cause you to walk unnaturally (you may be tempted to curl your toes to keep your shoes in place when you walk). Moreover that causes muscle strain. 

1. Comfort.

When you’re picking a pair of shoes, you want to be sure that you feel comfortable when you wear them. Make sure that they do not feel too tight or pinch you anywhere on your foot. However, you want to make sure that your shoes are not too loose either as you won’t be able to walk naturally in them. You don’t want your toes to lack room either. Our Spine Align One shoes by Spine Footwear have a wide toe box that gives you ample room for your toes. They’re very comfortable and lightweight which makes them easy to wear.

2. A Slight Heel.

If a shoe is too flat, it affects the way your leg and your pelvis turns leading to a poor posture. In case of high heels, that will put more pressure on the front part of your foot and tilt your pelvis forward. A slight heel is ideal to avoid issues and to ensure that your foot have the adequate support needed so that you maintain a good posture. With Spine Footwear, our shoes have the appropriate heel so that you have enough support to maintain your posture.

3.Shock Absorption

When shoes are too flat or if you’re wearing high heels, they put more pressure on your joints. Always look for cushioning as that will help to absorb shock. You need shoes with soles that are not too hard as they will not absorb shock. However, if there’s too much cushioning, you won’t have enough support. Spine Align One by Spine Footwear is shock absorbing. The heels support your feet, giving you just the right amount of cushioning for comfort and support.

4. Arch Support.

Your foot’s arch requires adequate support and a lot of shoes may not cater for arch support which is important for the proper alignment of your spine. A lack of arch support can cause your tendons and ligaments in your feet to overstretch, leading to back pain. Spine Footwear has a comfortable arch support which makes them ideal for everyday wear.