Please note that I have no relationship with the products or services I describe here. I developed this site partly to encourage me to put more effort into fixing my own back, but also to inspire others to go take control of their own back care.

Hopefully you may find some of the ideas here useful, and maybe can discuss them with your doctor.

If you find mylowerbackpain.com useful, please add a link to it from your website or blog.

Thanks, Steve.

Not MBTs but Fitflops

by Anthea
(UK)

Not MBTs but Fitflops, very similar. I started wearing them two years ago a few months after an arthroscopy on my knee--the first time I wore them was for a three mile walk, and I hadn't been walking much because of the operation.

I have loved the Fitflops to bits, very comfortable, but I kept getting intense leg pain every few weeks after strong exercise. After several visits to the GP and physio without any conclusion, I started with an osteopath. The muscles in my legs were rock solid, and I have just been diagnosed with a degenerative lower back problem.

I never had back pain until I started with the osteopath and he started to release my leg muscles and told me to stick my bottom out as I seemed to tuck it under my spine. I stopped wearing the Fitflops about six weeks ago, and things are moving on.

I'm not sure how much the shoes are to blame, but...?

Steve's comments:

I have no idea if your Fitflops have created your lower back pain, but my wife has a pair and seems to spend most of the summer in them. She's not reported any problems with her back. (But then she's not reported any particular health benefits from wearing them either.)

Interestingly, I note from the Fitflops website (www.fitflop.com) that they have branched out into other styles of footwear. I'm actually tempted!