Plus, what to look for when buying shoes for lower back pain.

Key Points

• Podiatrists agree that the Hoka Bondi 9 is the best shoe for lower back pain.
• Shoes “can absolutely help or hurt us by altering our posture and gait.”
• More podiatrist-recommended shoes that alleviate back pain are the Brooks Glycerin GTS 22, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 and Knee clifton 10.

If you’ve ever experienced lower back pain, you know just how relentlessly irritating it can be—and how quickly it can throw off your whole day.

What many people don’t realize, however, is that your feet—and how you support them—play a critical role in the health of your lower back. Properly supporting your feet helps improve your body’s overall alignment and reduces stress on the spine and surrounding muscles. When your feet aren’t adequately supported, shock can travel up through the ankles, knees and hips and place added pressure on your lower back.

“People with back pain are not always thinking about the huge role shoes play,” says Michelle A. Morse, D.P.M.food and ankle surgeon at Atrius Health. “Our feet, and therefore shoes, are the foundation for our entire body, and they can absolutely help or hurt us by altering our posture and gait.”

So what shoe, specifically, is best for lower back pain? I asked Morse and two other podiatrists to share their recommendations—and all three, surprisingly, gave me the same answer.

Hoka Bondi 9

$170 at Amazon

$175 $140 at Zappos

“Hoka’s Bondi line is one of the most cushioned on the market, says Gregory Alvarez, D.P.M., FACFASat Ankle & Foot Centers of America. “This means they offer significant shock absorption that helps reduce the load transferred up the legs and into the back.”

If you have chronic back discomfort, wearing a shoe that also encourages an efficient stride is important. “The Hoka Bondi has a rocker construction that encourages a smoother gait, which will reduce strain on the hips and lower back,” says Anne Sharkey, D.P.M., FACFASfounder of Solely Podiatry.

What to Look for in Shoes for Back Pain

That being said, there are other shoes beyond the Hoka Bondi line that are good for lower back pain. Generally speaking, you want to look for a shoe that has cushioned, shock-absorbing midsoles. “This reduces the impact forces that travel up through the legs and into the lower back,” says Alvarez. Make sure that your arch is supported—this maintains proper foot and ankle alignment—and that your heel is stable, which will minimize pronation. “Pronation can worsen back pain,” says Alvarez. Finally, ensure the shoes fit properly! When shoes are too tight or too loose, they can alter your gait, which increases stress on your back.

Or, simply, check out these other podiatrist-loved shoes.

More Podiatrist-Recommended Shoes for Lower Back Pain

Brooks Glycerin GTS 22

$165 $125 at Amazon

$165 $125 at Zappos

Vionic Walk Strider Knit

$170 at Amazon

$170 at Zappos

Brooks Ghost Max 3

$160 at Amazon

$160 at Brooks Running

Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 Running Shoe

$165 $125 at Amazon

$165 $125 at Zappos

Brooks Addiction Walker 2

$130 at Amazon

$140 at Brooks Running

Knee clifton 10

$155 at Amazon

$155 $98 at Zappos

Oofos Recovery Slide

$60 at Amazon

At the time of publishing, the price started at $140.

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