Reviews Show Insoles Won't Help Back Pain

Are you looking to shoe insoles for back pain relief? Then you might need to look elsewhere, a new review of studies shows.

The review, which was published in The Cochrane Library, looked at three studies involving 2,061 people, which focused on the use of customized and standard insoles versus either no treatment or sham insoles for back pain prevention. Another three studies comprising 256 patients examined the use of insoles for either prevention or treatment of existing back pain.

The review showed that there was inadequate evidence to support purchasing or prescribing shoe insoles to either prevent back pain or treat it. Furthermore, many of the people in the studies reported that back pain insoles were uncomfortable.

So are shoe insoles useless? Not necessarily, say the researchers. There are some people who did benefit from them. Furthermore, says lead author Tali Sahar, PhD, of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, “Insoles might be beneficial for prevention or treatment of other disorders, but this was not the topic of our review.”

Mary

23 Jun 2011, 08:44

I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc and arthritis, also problem feet. The doctor prescribed expensive insoles by a doctor and bought them when I was in my 30's. Didnt see much improvement. Now in my fifties, I had got to the point wheere I could not walk, was in pain all the time. About 4 years ago, I saw a commercial advertizing walkfit insoles. Orderd them, took about a month to get use to them. I can really say they work. I do not usually recommend any product, but these cost about $30,and they have help to re-align my body to where the bones in my feet do not budge out anymore. they really worked for me. You can also wear them with lower dressed hill shoes. Not to good with sanders, but found a pair of sanders that works with them.

Nancy Keasler

05 Oct 2009, 10:32

I was told by one Doctor to purchase the insoles.This was to help with my knee problem. They cost me 300.00. I bought a pair at Walmart for 30.00. They were as helpful as the more expensive ones. I still had to have knee replaced. Still have alot of pain also. Plus now lower back pain that is constant.

elaine

12 Mar 2009, 09:18

hear hear! Inserts also contributed to feeling bad because shoes have to accommodate them - the shoes that do that tend to be unattractive and hopeless for summer.

The comment function provides the opportunity to comment on the content above.

General comments or questions to Arthritis Today editors and medical experts can be submitted here. Past medical questions and answers are available here.

Promotion of products and services and other inappropriate comments are prohibited and will be removed. If you spot one of these before we do, please send an alert.

All fields are required but only your name and comment will be displayed. Your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.

Name:
Email:
Text:
Enter the words shown above separated by space Enter the numbers you hear

Reviews Show Insoles Won't Help Back Pain

Leave a Comment