Is work boots the cause of your back pain? Work boots can cause back pain if they are the incorrect fit for your feet or your work environment.

The American Chiropractic Association approximates that half of all workers experience back pain symptoms every year!

Over 80% of back pain cases result from wearing improper footwear!

If 38 comes before 39, what comes after 40?

Back pain!

But if your back pain isn’t age-related and you suspect your work boots to have a hand in it, stay with us for remedies to your suffering.

Our editorial squad at MyBestWorkBoots works hard to give you the latest in work boot developments.

With your health in mind we put together this thorough evaluation of whether work boots cause back pain.

Let’s get rolling!

What Are the Clues That You May Have Work Boot Back Pain?

Clues that you may have back pain related to your work boots are:

• Bone and joint pain.
• Lower back pain.
• Loss of motion.
• Tenderness to touch.
• Pain on the outside of the lower back.
• Muscle spasms.

Let’s have a look at these in more depth.

Bone & Joint Pain

Bone and joint pain, caused by walking or standing all day in your work boots, adversely affecting your nerves, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. 

This pain may even cause discomfort when you move or stroll.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain may mean you are wearing work boots for an extended period, causing a spinal disc to slip out of its usual position. 

If this type of injury is accompanied by rigidity, it may feel like a spasm.

Sudden sharp sensations or pain in the lower back are not typical symptoms of arthritis, but they could be indicators of other illnesses such as ruptured discs or spondylolysis damage¹. 

Loss of Motion

Loss of motion, accompanied with pain, could be due to a hernia² or internal injury.

You will feel pain in your stomach or lower back. Hernias can result from cumulative or specific trauma in the workplace.

Tenderness to Touch

Tenderness to touch, pain or soreness around the back area, inflammation or swelling, are more clues that you may have work boot back pain.

Manual palpation and passive movement are two examinations used to diagnose this in physical therapy. 

Lower back pain caused by work boots is treatable. Treatment is generally determined by the etiology of the lower back pain.

If the problem is caused by a degenerative process³ in the lumbar spine, it may take months or even years to resolve.

Pain on the Outside of the Lower Back

Pain on the outside of the lower back could be caused by strain in your spine or hip, which may indicate work boot back ache.

Pain on the outside of the lower back is a symptom that’s tough to detect because it’s more difficult than looking for pain inside your back. 

If the discomfort is on the outside of your back, consult an expert to ensure that it does not cause further damage in the future.

Muscle Spasms

Being prone to muscle spasms⁴ is one of the most prevalent causes of lower back pain caused by work boots. 

If this is the case, other symptoms such as stiffness, the discomfort that extends into the thighs and buttocks, and pain that worsens with movement will almost always be present.

What Are the Ways Work Boots Can Cause Back Pain?

The ways that your work boots can cause back pain are:

• Wrong boot size
• Boot weight
• Boot quality
• Work environment
• Boot material
• Heeled work boots
• Insoles
• Arch support
• Flat work boots
• Regular boots
• Strain

Let’s explore each of these in more detail.

Wrong Size

The wrong sized work boot can cause back pain, especially if you’re walking around in ill-fitting work boots or heavy-duty work boots that are too stiff or too flexible, you’re putting yourself in danger of foot pain and back pain. 

If your work boots are smaller than they should be, your toes and toe box will feel constricted inside the boots, and your arch will suffer the most.

In this instance, the entire body’s weight is concentrated to only one region of the foot, and the discomfort of the foot inside the little boot will cause foot and back pain.

Boots that are too big could place unnecessary strain on the feet, legs, and back because the feet aren’t properly supported.

They may result in a loss of balance, a tripping hazard that may cause back pain from falling.

Boot Weight

Boot weight can cause back pain, wearing boots that are too heavy for you can result in back pain because they make your body compensate by putting too much pressure on other parts of your body. 

Safety boots are generally heavy because they are made to absorb some of the shocks that come with standing or walking, which is beneficial for people with weak ankles or arches. 

It’s vital to select a light enough boot without compromising its safety features.

Boot Quality

Poor quality boots can cause back pain since they are often overly rigid or too soft, causing your feet to swell. 

This is aggravated if you have to walk for a long time at work or have existing foot problems. 

Working Environment

Your work environment plays a huge role in developing back pain, especially if you spend many hours a day on your feet. 

Work boots might exacerbate this pain if you don’t get enough rest or stand in an awkward posture for too long. 

Work boots are built with features that can improve your walking experience, but wearing them for prolonged periods poses major health hazards.

Boot Material

Boot material can be a major cause of back pain, especially if they are the incorrect material for your work activities.

Work boots are made of various materials, including leather, cloth, rubber, and plastic, make sure you get a boot that suits your occupational needs. 

Not maintaining your work boot material can also cause back pain.

Unsuitable work boot care will compromise the heel’s stability, causing ankle or lower back pain. 

Also

Work boots with material that isn’t shock-absorbent⁵ can also cause backache.

When we walk, and our feet strike the ground, the sole splays outward to dissipate⁶ force, transforming it into a shock absorber.

When your footwear prevents this from happening naturally due to poor material, this pounding force is sent up to the knees, hips, and lower back, resulting in pain.

Heeled Work Boots

Heeled work boots that are excessively high will directly impact your spine, leading to back pain. 

In such cases, the foot’s heel is elevated to a significantly higher height than the rest of the foot, causing the heels to carry far more of the body’s weight and immediately sending discomfort to the spine.

Insoles

Wearing work boots that lack cushioning from the insole will make your feet come closer to the ground, contributing to back pain due to the lack of shock absorbance.

Cushioned insoles provide a comfortable basis for the feet, absorbing much of the body’s weight and preventing injury to the feet and back.

Arch Support

One of the ways that your work boots can cause back pain is if they have insufficient arch support.

The arch support and midsole support the feet and prevent twists and bends in the ligaments and bones of the feet, helping you avoid foot and back pain.

Your feet bear the weight of your entire body, absorb shock when you run or walk, and aid in the appropriate alignment of your spine.

If you wear shoes that don’t provide enough arch support or put too much weight on one portion of your foot, the vertebrae⁷ in your spine may become misaligned.

Back and neck pain, muscle tension, spasms, stiffness, and decreased range of motion are all symptoms of misalignment.

Flat Work Boots

Wearing flat work boots causes back pain because they provide insufficient shock absorption for the feet.

Wearing work boots without a 1-inch heel can cause foot and back pain. 

Because the foot’s arch is not bent, the entire foot comes into close contact with the ground, causing the body’s weight to be magnified in the feet, where the pain is passed back to the spine and back.

Regular Boots

Wearing regular boots instead of the specific work boots required for your profession can cause back pain because they are unsuitable for your work tasks. 

Every profession requires the use of a specific work boot, each of which is built for your comfort and protection.

Wearing a normal boot that is not suited for your work will expose you to hazard, discomfort, and back pain.

Strain

One of the ways that your work boots can cause back pain is if you conduct straining work activities in them for long periods.

Two hours of standing during work are not problematic, but standing in your work boots for eight, nine, or more hours a day causes considerable muscle weariness, back pain, and leg cramps.

If you feel something pulling on your back when wearing work boots, you should avoid doing heavy-duty activities in them.

What Are the Remedies for Back Pain Caused by Work Boots?

The remedies for back pain caused by work boots are:

• Boot size
• Stretching
• Cushion
• Shock absorbance
• Arch support

Let’s have a closer look at these.

Boot Size

The right boot size will remedy work boot back ache. Get a work boot that is neither too loose nor too tight.

The most important aspect of selecting work boots is that they properly fit your feet.

To determine whether your work boots are appropriate for your feet, you must first try them on at the store to ensure a good fit.

When trying the boots on before buying them, use a pair of the socks you will be wearing at work to give you a more accurate idea of how they will fit you when working.

When trying them on, or wearing them, be sure there is no pressure on the top or sides of your foot.

Stretching

Stretching exercises are beneficial to your health and assist your ankles and lower back muscles to remain healthy.

If you regularly wear work boots, you should stretch for 15 minutes every day to help your ankles recover faster and reduce the chance of injury to your feet, legs, and back⁸.

Cushion

Wearing work boots with good cushioning will go a long way to help you alleviate back pain.

This ensures that your weight is evenly distributed.

High-heeled work boots give more cushioning than low-heeled work boots.

Gel cushions and memory foam are examples of great cushioning materials.

Shock Absorbance

Good shock-absorbing work boots are beneficial not just for your feet but also for your back.

The larger the shock absorber, the more at ease you will feel.

Shock-absorbing materials’ primary role is to minimize the impact and pressure on your feet.

Make sure your work boots are made of shock-absorbing materials before buying them.

Arch Support

Another remedy for back pain caused by work boots is wearing boots with enough arch support. 

Your work boots should offer arch support to prevent your foot from rolling or pronating⁹ while walking.

This padding will help your feet feel the shoe’s support while wearing them.

Common Questions

In Conclusion

It is critical to select the proper work boot for your feet. Otherwise, you’ll end up with foot and back agony that you’ll have to bear for unnecessarily long periods.

I hope you now know the best back pain causes, solutions, and how to prevent backache from the onset.

To prevent your work boots from being the cause of back pain, keep these points in mind the next time you go shopping for a new pair.