Have been using work boots for the last few months and feeling back pain. So you thinking ” Can Work Boots Cause Back Pain? “
Experiencing back pain while wearing work boots isn’t surprising. According to American Chiropractic Association, one-half of all American workers complain about back pain each year.
We’re not talking about all work boots in general, but only those that aren’t made with comfort in mind.
While you can stay safe from potential injuries in harsh environments, wearing uncomfortable work boots on a day-to-day basis can have a negative impact on your health. That’s because such work boots have heels and overall rigid construction that puts a strain on the muscles, leading to back pain.
Here in this guide, we have explained how can work boots cause back pain and the ways you can get relief from it.
How Can Work Boots Cause Back Pain?
When you wear an uncomfortable pair of work boots, the rigidness of the boot puts a strain on the nerves of the feet, obstructing blood flow and the movement of the tendons and ligaments.
The feet and the spinal cord are connected through the bones of the legs and the pelvis. If there’s anything that affects the nerves, tendons, ligaments, veins, and joints in the feet, the spinal cord will be affected directly and result in back pain.
Reasons Why Work Boots Cause Back Pain
Here are some of the reasons why people wearing work boots experience back pain.
1. Heightened Heels
One of the main reasons for backache is wearing shoes having very high heels. When you wear work boots with raised heels, your hips tend to shift forward along with your body’s weight, which is now distributed to the balls of the foot. In order to balance the weight, your upper body has to lean backward, and doing so puts more stress on the spinal discs, leading to back pain.
2. Poorly Cushioned Insole
Another cause of back pain is wearing work boots that aren’t properly cushioned. If you walk in such boots, your feet will fully come into contact with the ground and can cause pain both on the feet and the back.
It is important to wear properly cushioned work boots as they provide a soft surface under your feet, promote flexibility, and absorb much of your body’s weight to ease the pain.
3. Lack Of Arch Support
Arch support is important in every shoe because it helps the arch of the feet to maintain its structure. Work boots that lack arch support can result in a collapsed arch, leading to foot injuries due to stretched muscles and backache.
4. Flat Outsole
Wearing work boots that have a completely flat outsole without any heels can contribute to back pain. Such boots don’t provide arch support, and because of that, most of the body’s weight is felt on the feet, which results in foot injury and back pain.
5. Improper Size
If you wear work boots of the wrong size, particularly smaller than the size you wear, your toes will not rest properly on the toe box. As a result, the body’s entire weight will not be distributed evenly, and you will experience both foot and back pain.
Tips To Choosing Work Boots That Prevent Back Pain
First things first, you should be choosing work boots that prevent back pain. Here are some tips you can follow before you buy a pair.
- Look for a pair of work boots having heels no more than an inch. If there are heel cushions, that will be beneficial because they will absorb shock as you walk or run. It’s alright if your work boots don’t have heel cushions because you can always insert them by yourself.
- Ensure that your chosen work boots have a cushioned insole. If it’s not enough for your comfort, you can insert an orthopedic insole because it supports the feet better than a regular insole.
- Select work boots having a midsole and arch support. You can go for a pair that features steel shanks as these are known to provide good arch support throughout the day.
- Make sure you choose a pair of work boots of the right size with enough space in the toe box. For the perfect fitting, it is a good idea to go for lace-up work boots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Cowboy Boots Help With Back Pain?
As long as cowboy boots have heels within an inch and also provide good arch support, wearing them shouldn’t cause back pain.
Are Gravity Boots Good For Back Pain?
Gravity boots are used in inversion therapy because they are sturdy and provide enough support for suspension. As a result, they help relieve acute and chronic back pain.
Why Do New Work Boots Hurt?
When you purchase brand new work boots, you will need to break in them to make them conform to your feet. They can hurt in the beginning as they haven’t been conformed right after manufacturing, causing blisters.
You Can Also Read : How to Keep Your Feet From Hurting
How Can I Break In Work Boots?
If you find it uncomfortable in wearing your new work boots, it is possible to achieve comfort. You need to ensure you have chosen the right size and when you have it, you can try walking around the house, wearing thick socks with the boots, or conditioning the boots.
It can be worth noting that new work boots can take about 100 hours to break in. But, you shouldn’t try to break in for a few days straight, rather a couple of hours a day.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned about how can work boots cause back pain, we hope you’ll remain cautious whenever it comes to choosing a pair.
If you’ve liked one, we recommend you take a look at its features and reviews to see what others are saying about your desired work boots before adding them to your shopping cart.
And, if you already own a pair of work boots but experiencing pain, we highly recommend you visit a doctor because the pain might also arise from other causes.
