Best Insoles for Back Pain 2021

Back pain can be a complex issue, and a lot of the time it's directly related to the alignment of your feet as you stand and walk. Misalignment of your feet in your shoes can cause postural issues, which can result in strain in the feet that can travel up to your knees, hips and back. Left untreated, this misalignment can make conditions like arthritis and general pain even worse, so it's important to tackle the issue as soon as possible.

Orthotics or shoe insoles are perhaps the most cost-effective treatment for back pain, and they're a great place to start before considering a more drastic solution. To help you pick the right orthotics for back pain to suit your needs, we've had our product experts go over the multitude of available choices to select the very best back pain insoles in a few key areas.

Our Best All-Round Insoles for Back Pain

Winner: Powerstep Original Full Length Orthotic Insoles

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Why We Love Them…

✔ Full length contact design cradles and aligns the feet to correct any imbalance
✔ Dual-layer EVA foam provides forgiving cushioning to avoid impact shock
✔ Suitable for most types of footwear – great insoles for sciatica sufferers

Not the Best For…

✘ Intense sporting use (see below)
✘ Those with serious foot deformities

 

Editor's Verdict: There's good reason why the Powerstep Original Full Length Orthotic Insoles are some of our best-selling insoles, and some of the most frequently-recommended by podiatrists. Stabilising the foot with heel cradling, a total-contact design and semi-rigid arch support, these insoles are some of the best at correcting common misalignments and conditions like plantar fasciitis and ankle instability.

Best Sports Insoles for Back Pain

Winner: Pedag Viva Sport Insoles

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Why We Love Them…

✔ Micro-air chambers reduce impact felt with every step – ideal for running
✔ Sturdy arch support provides a healthy gait and aligned heel-to-toe movement
✔ Dedicated soft metatarsal pad makes these an excellent solution to forefoot pain

Not the Best For…

✘ Especially tight-fitting sports footwear (for really tight shoes, try the Superfeet Blue Active Insoles)

 

Editor's Verdict: Shock-absorption is a major concern when choosing a pair of insoles for sports, which is where the Pedag Viva Sport Insoles really excel. They combine some serious cushioning with really sturdy arch support and heel alignment, making them an ideal choice if you find that you suffer from back pain or knee pain after your runs and walks.

Best Back Pain Insoles for Instability

Winner: Superfeet Green Performance Insoles

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Why We Love Them…

✔ Biomechanical shape guides the foot to reduce pressure on key pain areas
✔ Heel cup cradles your heel and reduces shock to make your shoes more comfortable
✔ Antimicrobial cover layer helps to keep your shoes fresh and odour-free

Not the Best For…

✘ Those looking for a cushioning over support
✘ Anyone looking for a cheap insole on a budget

 

Editor's Verdict: We rarely leave Superfeet out of a list of top insoles, as they're known for advanced biomechanical shapes that guide the foot to make walking a pleasure. The Superfeet Green Performance Insoles are the flagship of the range, providing an ideal combination of alignment, cushioning and support that have made them top-sellers for everything from back pain to plantar fasciitis. The race for our top pick was very close between these and the Powerstep Original Insoles.

Best Back Pain Insoles for Tight Shoes

Winner: Vionic 3/4 Length Orthotic Insoles

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Why We Love Them…

✔ 3/4 design aligns the foot while leaving room for your feet in tight footwear
✔ Designed with tri-planar motion control technology to keep your feet aligned
✔ Cushioned heel provides great shock-absorption upon contact with ground

Not the Best For…

✘ Those with metatarsal pain or splayfoot issues
✘ Use in boots, wellies or especially wide shoes

 

Editor's Verdict: This pick is fairly self-explanatory, as the Vionic 3/4 Length Orthotic Insoles provide much of the cushioning and all of the alignment of other insoles, without the cushioning for the forefoot that can make your shoes feel tight. Offering great stability and motion control combined with a satisfying cushioned heel, these insoles are a perfect choice for almost any footwear, including those on the tighter side.

Best High Heel Insoles for Back Pain

Winner: Powerstep Slenderfit Fashion Orthotic Insoles

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Why We Love Them…

✔ Ultra-slim and tapered – ideal for fashion shoes and high heels
✔ Unique S-shape allows arch support and contoured control in a slim package
✔ Metatarsal pad relieves forefoot pain while helping Your Sole Insoles stay put

Not the Best For…

✘ Trainers or regular shoes without a high heel
✘ Sporting use or use in boots

 

Editor's Verdict: If you frequently wear high heels, for work or otherwise, most insoles won't be a good fit. The Powerstep Slenderfit Fashion Orthotic Insoles are a cleverly-designed solution to this problem, using an S-shaped shell that allows for great arch support without requiring a larger insole. The metatarsal pad solves two problems at once as well; cushioning the forefoot while helping Your Sole Insoles to stick in the right place.

What Should I Look for in Insoles for Back Pain?

1. Alignment:  Insoles that correct any misalignment of your feet as you walk are key. Correcting imbalances such as pronation and supination can pay dividends for back pain relief.
2. Cushioning: Lessening the shock that travels up your body from your feet will reduce strain, which is great for correcting all forms of lower body and back pain.

Take Back Your Comfort

Before getting involved in back braces and even surgery, sometimes working on correctly aligning your gait can be the easiest and most cost-effective way to stave off lower back pain. These insoles are all designed to do just that, and will also carry the handy benefit of making your shoes more comfortable through everything you do. If you'd like to see our entire range of shoe insoles to reduce back pain, take a look at our entire Insoles for Back Pain section.

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