How does footwear affect spinal alignment?
Written by
Robert Kelly
Reviewed by
Prof. William Dalton, Ph.D.The shoes you wear will set the stage for the alignment of your spine. If you are wearing shoes that do not provide enough support, you're compounding your natural gait patterns. The knees, hips, and spine must adjust unnaturally. Eventually, these adjustments become second nature, and chronic misalignment issues develop.
Heel Height Effects
- High heels shift weight forward increasing lumbar curve
- Flat shoes without support cause overpronation
- Ideal heel height maintains neutral pelvic positioning
Arch Support Functions
- Proper support distributes weight evenly across feet
- Insufficient support collapses foot arches inward
- Custom orthotics correct individual biomechanical issues
Biomechanical compensation patterns originate from inadequate footwear. Unsupported footwear causes your feet to excessively roll inwards, which leads to your ankles, knees, and hips rotating in the same pattern. Next, your spine rounds or curves to balance out these repositionings. With each step, you create even more around these detrimental patterns.
Select shoes that feature support for the spine, moderate heel height, with a maximum height of under 1 inch. Arch support is adequate for your foot arch type, test flexibility with a twist of the shoes. Replace shoes every six months to maintain support.
Addressing foot problems greatly affects your overall posture. If you're accustomed to wearing heels, transition to supportive shoes gradually. If needed, use orthotic inserts in your existing shoes. You will likely notice a decrease in back pain within weeks of consistently wearing proper shoes.
Read the full article: 10 Essential Steps How Improve Posture
