There can be a veritable laundry list of causes and contributors to back pain and it is often hard to pinpoint a single cause. In fact, from aging to posture to diet, these factors are often intertwined which is why it is so important to practice a healthy lifestyle designed to spare your back.
One contributor that surprises many people is footwear. You may have heard or read about how high heels can cause back pain, but that isn’t the only type of shoe that can cause problems for the spine. If back pain is affecting your life in any way, Border Therapy Services wants to help. As you read the following guide, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or to learn more about our treatment options.
How shoes affect the back and cause pain
Although the feet and the back may seem relatively far apart on the body, they are closely linked by way of the body’s kinetic chain. This means that if something affects the way a part of the body moves, it can cause a chain reaction that affects the way another area moves. Eventually, these compensatory movements may cause an injury to another part of the body, or cause a flare-up of pain if there is already something wrong.
Specifically for the feet and back, this means that wearing a pair of shoes that has a negative effect on the way we stand, walk or run has the possibility of increasing the strain that is placed on the ankles, knees, hips or the back. For example, high heels are bad for the back because they shift weight forward which causes the back to compensate by arching excessively.
If you’re looking for spine-friendly footwear, keep the following tips in mind:
- You should wear shoes that fit and promote proper posture.
- Try to shop at a shoe store that offers a gait analysis and orthotic footwear or insoles.
- Replace old shoes before they become too worn out.
While wearing the right shoes can be an important aspect of preventing and treating back pain, it is only part of the puzzle.
Other treatments for back pain
Chronic back pain should be treated with a holistic treatment plan, with physical therapy often serving as a key element. A qualified physical therapist, like one of the experts at Border Therapy Services, can evaluate your posture and movement patterns to identify common sources of back pain. Patients can then receive one-on-one sessions that include active and passive methods to stabilize, strengthen and improve range of motion for the back.
We want to help you get back to the active life you’ve been missing due to pain. Contact us today for your initial appointment.