Summer Back Pain Prevention with the right footwear Sandals and flip flops are huge this summer. The ugly secret though is that for most of our patients, the cheap flat sandals will cause your back to ache. Since your children are most likely built like you, they likely walk like you. Never buy sandals without arches. I will show you examples of what you should and should not buy. A good sandal is worth the extra cash if you have to do any extended walking. Your feet, knees, lower and upper back will thank you (trust me on this). Reef Crocs Orthoheel Kinetic Reef Sandals are a great example of a terrific design, with a great arch and they look good too. Many local stores carry them and they are available on line. Notice these have terrific arches. Also to the right are Croc’s which are a hot fashion item this year and they have good arches too. Below them are a newer design under the name ORTHAHEEL® KINETIC which I have found at Roadrunner Sports in North Brunswick. These are wonderful because of their deep foot bed, good heel stabilization with the heel cup. If you have back problems, this one should be on your short list. Note below are examples of what not to buy. While these flip flops are inexpensive at Old Navy, they are not appropriate for anyone with foot problems that causes back pain. People without foot issues can wear these with minimal consequences. To the right are a typical womens sandal again without arches. These should be avoided by anyone with lower back problems. Most ladies will buy sandals if they are attractive, however, many better sandals are now available with arches. Limit your search to those with arches. Old Navy There are many other companies that make well designed flip flops which are commonly sold at Nordstroms, Sports Authority, Roadrunner Sports, Dicks and have names such as Nike, Teva, ORTHAHEEL® KINETIC to name a couple. Since it is the end of the season around here, you may be able to score big during sales and stock up on great summer flip flops and other styles of shoes. Lastly, dont forget to put your arches in your regular shoes and sneakers, especially when playing sports. Your back will thank you.