Back pain, joint pain, and poor posture

Have your back been bothering you a bit lately? Most people with back pain conclude that there must be a problem with the spine. But that doesn't necessarily have to be the case.

Maybe your shoes are to blame for your troublesome back. Bad shoes do more harm than you might have learned. Especially, wearing inappropriate shoes for a long time or wearing high-heeled shoes.

We know, we know. Legs in high heels look sexy as hell, BUT (actually, there are many more buts) is it worth it? Are we trading our health for sexy legs in elegant stilettos?!

If you're dying to find out why and how shoes affect our health, keep reading.

How can shoes affect our health?

Wearing inappropriate shoes puts our health at great risk. As surreal as it sounds, it couldn't be more precise.

Our feet are one of the most important parts of the body when it comes to overall movement. Our feet carry the weight of our body, and they carry it wherever and whenever we want. They deserve a little love, don’t they?!

To do this job for us (and for free :) our feet form the foundation for our bodies and play a key role in maintaining balance while we stand, walk, and run.

The wrong shoes do not provide the support they need. So, they struggle! And if our feet struggle, our body hurts. This is called the kinetic chain – the movement of one joint affects another.

What kind of shoes hurt our feet the most? High heels are, without a doubt, the biggest culprit... How? Why?

What damage do high-heeled shoes cause?

When you stand upright, most of the body weight will be concentrated in the heel area, then the metatarsal region (the bones in the middle part of the foot), and the toes.

Shoes with elevated heels sabotage this process and the weight cannot be evenly distributed. Wearing heels changes our posture. Our chest is pushed forward, and the pelvis is tilted forward.

As a result, the natural S-curve of the spine is thrown out of alignment, which puts our back muscles under significant stress as they try to keep our body stable. In some cases, spinal misalignment even causes nerve pain that can extend from the back down the leg.

No matter what, do you still dream of wearing sky-high heels? If you're willing to risk foot pain, back pain, poor posture, nerve pain, and much more, do whatever floats your boat.

But do yourself a favor and don’t wear high-heeled shoes too often or for too long. Give your feet the rest they deserve :).

What can I do to feel better?

Inappropriate shoes can cause a multitude of problems. Fallen arches, bunions, back pain, or incorrect posture are just some of them. What can you do to protect yourself?

Make conscious and wise choices when it comes to footwear. Shoes should not have elevated heels, should not be too narrow, tight, or small, and should perfectly reflect your feet.

In general – opt for shoes without elevated heels and choose the right size.

How do you know which shoes are right?

You don’t have to be a nuclear scientist to understand what’s right for you :). Use common sense. Just one look at your bare feet should give you the answer you’re looking for. Let the shape of your foot be your guide in the sea of footwear options.

So, what do you see? Your heels make you feel safe and grounded, you feel gravity pulling you toward the earth.

So, point number 1, you don’t need heels for your feet to be happy :) You see that your toes are spread wide.

Point number 2, shoes with pointed or narrow toes are not right. Therefore, look for shoes with a spacious front part. They will give your toes enough room to spread freely and behave naturally.

Generally, your feet are designed to walk barefoot, to feel the ground beneath them, to feel every sensation that the surface offers.

So, number 3, no thick soles (insoles). In short, no heels, no thick soles, no pointy shoes.

Ta-da, the basic 3-point rule to follow when searching for the right shoes.

Moreover, ditch your shoes whenever you can and enjoy being barefoot. Walking barefoot in the summer? No problem. At home? With pleasure.

Of course, we know that walking to work barefoot is not what you dream of, considering all the dirty sidewalks, but what if we tell you there’s a way out of the woods? Barefoot shoes! 👍🏻

Barefoot shoes should be your conscious choice number one if you want your feet to stay healthy.

Since barefoot shoes are very different from the traditional shape of footwear, it is necessary to be aware of their key features to make sure you are buying quality barefoot shoes:

The sole of the shoe must be flexible and very thin, max 6 mm. Only such a thin sole can make the foot feel the ground

Zero drop is a must – this is the height difference between the heel and the toes, the whole foot must be leveled

Barefoot shoes must have a wide front to allow enough space for the toes. The shoes reflect the natural shape of the foot, but do not copy it too closely.

Barefoot shoes should be lightweight and not contain orthotics/inserts (insoles) for the feet.

And what about the health benefits of barefoot shoes?

• Strong muscles, healthy feet
• Barefoot helps you stay pain-free
• Barefoot brings you joy
• Body-wide reset
• Better balance

You can find more information about barefoot shoes and their health benefits here.

So, how does that sound? Are you intrigued?

Check out our Be Lenka Line – a team of smart people from Slovakia who combine a progressive approach to barefoot footwear with accessibility and affordability. What more could you wish for?

Elegant and original footwear that's good for your health at a reasonable price? Dreams have come true :)