Back pain can be traced to plenty of sources.
Maybe you overexerted yourself.
Perhaps you sit for most hours of the day.
Or maybe you have an underlying disease that causes back pain.
Both doctors note that what works best for one person wont necessarily work the same for others.
The fact that your heels are slightly elevated allows your ankle to turn a little bit and rotate differently.
That, then, will affect your spine and lower back and cause back pain, Dr. Fu says.
Fu notes that 2-inch heels have been shown to alleviate the pressure on your feet while walking.
The ideal range, she says, is between 1 and 2 inches.
Anything over that will not be kind to your back.
The same goes for a rubber heel or wedge-style shoes, says Fu.
Rocker-Bottom Soles
Rocker-bottom soles arent for everyone, but they can be helpful in some situations.
Fu notes that rocker-bottom sneakers with a thick rubber sole alleviate impact on the heel.
Sandals With Arch Support
Generally speaking, sandals and flip-flops dont provide a lot of support.
But special, orthopedic-style sandals are an exception, says Fu.
These do provide a proper amount of arch support, says Butts.
Fu explains that most flip-flops effectively lower your heel below your toes, creating a negative heel.
Fu cautions against anything thats a negative heel.
That includes flat types of loafers and ballerina-bang out shoes with a very flat sole.
Shoes like these will rotate your pelvis in a way that can worsen back pain, she says.
Typical dress shoes fall into this category, thanks to their lack of cushion.
However, these types of cushioning when combined with a more supportive heel arent so bad for you.
Again, these shoes will rotate the pelvis differently than shoes with a thicker sole.
People have just gotten bigger, he says.
Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
