Are you suffering from hip problems? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that over 80% of adults will experience significant hip pain at some point in their lifetime.
If you’re one of them, you know how debilitating and frustrating the condition can be. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to combat hip pain—and one of them is finding the right pair of shoes for your unique body type and lifestyle!
In this article, we’ll go over what to look for in a shoe if you have hip problems, as well as some recommendations on where to find them.
Best Shoes For Hip Problems
If you experience hip pain, your footwear can improve or worsen the symptoms. Choosing the right style of shoes for your health conditions can prevent any permanent injuries.
The best shoes for hip pain in 2020 are:
- Gravity Defyer Pain Relief Women’s Shoes
- Orthofeet Men’s Sneakers
- HOKA ONE Arahi Running Shoe
- Xelero Men’s Matrix Shoes
- ASICS Gel-Quantum 360 Knit 2 Men’s Shoes
Factors Contributing To Hip Pain
Before I share the best shoes for hip pain, let’s take a look at some ways you might be incorrectly looking after your feet and body and contributing to hip pain.
Repetitive Stress
First, repetitive stress can cause your hips to become inflamed, causing bursts of pain around your joints. Overusing the same muscles without correctly warming up or cooling down can lead to hip pain.
You can reduce this by mixing-up your exercise routines and not continuously performing the same move. Also, remember to warm up your muscles before vigorous exercise routines and cool-down properly.
Cushioned shoes help to reduce the stress placed on your bones, muscles, and joints, by directly absorbing the impact. Cushioning along the midsole is particularly important for those who regularly walk or run on pavements.
Bursitis
Bursae are the liquid sicks between your tissues, muscles, bones and tendons, stopping them from rubbing together. If this fluid gets inflamed, bursitis results, and this can especially occur in the hips.
To reduce this from happening, ensure your shoes fit correctly. Your footwear shouldn’t be too narrow, and there should be enough room for your toes to move freely.
Consider your arches, too. If your shoes don’t offer arch support, this can increase the chances of pronation—causing your leg, knees and hip to pronate, resulting in pain.
Arthritis
Arthritis can cause many issues in the body. If you have arthritis in your hips, they’ll become inflamed and stiff with movement. But, you may also notice pain the following day from a stroll or running.
Some people also experience a shooting pain in their hips from sitting down for too long. So, try to avoid staying in the same position for a prolonged time.
It’s essential that your shoes are cushioned around the ball of your foot. This part of the foot absorbs a lot of impact as you walk, so the padding will reduce the effects.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Shoes
Even walking places a strain on your joints, which can cause alignment issues resulting in hip pain. Fortunately, some shoes are designed to absorb the impact and reduce the pain on your hips from walking.
Consider these factors when shoe shopping:
- Cushioning.
- Platform.
- Rocker bottom.
Cushioning
The most important feature to look for is cushioning. Shoes designed for hip pain should have more cushioning than running shoes or for those with high arches. Look for EVA midsoles, which have several layers of cushioning throughout the shoes.
I also recommend heel and forefoot pads designed with gel, foam or memory foam. Each of these cushions your foot with every step, therefore, absorbing the impact as you walk.
Platform
You’ll notice that my selection of shoes have platforms. This is because the extra height protects your feet and hips, helping to absorb the impact from your steps.
Flat shoes can actually lead to hip and back pain. This is because the lack of height doesn’t offer any support, enabling your heels and midsoles to absorb the impact as you make contact with the ground.
Rocker Bottom
Consider unconventional shoes with a rocker bottom. These shoes are rounded at the sole, so the entire shoe doesn’t make contact with the floor as you step. By doing this, it provides a smoother transition from your toes to your heels.
As a result, your feet become more stable and less likely to pronate—which can contribute to other pains in your body. This design contours your feet and is beneficial if you’re heavy-footed or experience poor posture.
The Best Shoes For Hip Pain
If you experience regular hip pain, don’t suffer in silence. These are some of the best high-quality shoes that offer exceptional support and are designed to help reduce discomfort.
1. Gravity Defyer Pain Relief Women’s Shoes
These women’s shoes are available for daytime use and remain suitable in a professional work environment, too.
They’re designed with a sturdy midsole and a heel cup to take the stress off your feet. Plus, this footwear features an ergonomic rocker that absorbs the strain off of every step. This feature prevents you from stepping flat-footed, which could cause shooting pains to your hip.
The sole is cushioned to provide shock-absorbing technology that reduces injuries to your feet and hip. For further protection, they have a roomy toe box to relieve the stress on your toes and arches while making them more comfortable.
With a synthetic sole, these shoes are durable, weather-resistant and a great choice for walking outdoors. The seamless interior provides a comfortable, non-irritated surface, making them a great choice for everyone.
The shoes are available in sizes 6 to 11.
Pros
- Plenty of room for your toes.
- Shock-absorbing soles.
- Ergonomic rocker design.
- Synthetic sole.
Cons
- Platform might be too high for some.
- Expensive.
2. Orthofeet Men’s Sneakers
These men’s sneakers are available in blue and gray and are specifically designed for those with hip pain or sore joints.
With a lightweight design, they eliminate the strain on your feet and allow you to have a bounce to your step. They also feature air cushioning for breathability, so your feet don’t become too hot when you walk. Also, the cushioning feels comfortable against your skin with a pillow-like softness.
Designed to improve comfort and ease pain, these men’s sneakers also help with lower back pain. I particularly like the padding around the heel—an area that some shoes often neglect—and the air pockets that provide this shock-absorbing feature.
They also feature a wide toe box, which is essential if you have bunions. Plus, the additional space provides flexibility for your toes while adding a spring to your step. With orthopedic insoles, these shoes help to prevent corns and calluses from forming, too.
The shoes are available in sizes 7 to 14.
Pros
- Available in wide-fit options.
- Air-cushioned insole.
- Wide toe box for comfort.
- Synthetic sole.
- Adds a spring to your step.
Cons
- Some reported the velcro isn’t secure.
3. Hoka One Arahi Running Shoe
Looking for a stylish pair of shoes to help alleviate hip pain? These lavender shoes are great for more than just hip pain. Many customers compliment how these shoes are ideal for heel pain and relieving sore legs.
These benefits are thanks to the cushioned platform, which absorbs the impact when walking. HOKA also designed these shoes with a meta-rocker system that provides an accurate roll when you walk. As a result, they don’t slam down to the floor—even if you’re heavy-footed. This helps to take the pressure off of your hips.
Also, the padded tongue helps to prevent chafing and discomfort—making these shoes a suitable choice if you don’t always wear socks.
Despite their bulky appearance, these shoes are lightweight—helping to reduce any additional stress or strain on your body.
The shoes are available in sizes 5 to 12.
Pros
- Cushioned platform.
- Meta-rocker system to absorb impact.
- Padded tongue for comfort.
Cons
- Takes a while to break into the shoes.
- Not available in a wide fit.
4. Xelero Men’s Matrix Shoes
These shoes carry a casual appeal that’s great for daytime use. They’re also specifically designed for those who suffer from hip pain and fatigue by reducing pressure off of your toes.
Designed with a leather exterior, they’re long-lasting and offer some flexibility for a customized fit. Plus, they won’t wear down easily, like fabric shoes tend to. Plus, the rubber sole improves its durability with multidirectional lugs to support you across muddy surfaces.
I love that these feature an EVA footbed for a comfortable and soft feel. This also provides stability to prevent your feet from moving outwards when you walk. Plus, the footbed helps your heel-to-toe transition to reduce impact absorption.
Compared to the other shoes on this list, Xelero designed this pair to offer ankle support by extending farther upwards. They’re also lightweight, helping to reduce any additional tension on your hips and feet.
The shoes offer a lining insole to absorb any moisture, which makes them ideal for wearing in high temperatures.
The shoes are available in sizes 8 to 14.
Pros
- EVA footbed for comfort.
- Multidirectional lugs for traction.
- Lightweight design.
- Insole lining material to absorb moisture.
Cons
- Not as much cushioning as other shoes on this list.
5. Asics Gel-Quantum 360 Knit 2 Men’s Shoes
Many customers reported experiencing less hip pain when wearing these stylish shoes from ASICS. They’re lightweight, making them great to wear for hours at a time. They’re also air-cushioned, providing excellent durability and a bouncy effect to your steps.
The gel cushioning stands out for me. This runs from the rearfoot to the forefoot and provides shock absorption to prevent any impact shooting up to your hips. This feature is a great way of providing a smooth foot transition every time.
There’s also a great amount of support around the heel, thanks to the padding. As such, you can wear these shoes for long periods and reduce your aches and pains.
Designed with an Ortholite sock liner, this provides a high level of breathability and prevents a build-up of moisture in your shoe. The sock liner is also cushioned for optimum comfort.
The shoes are available in sizes 7 to 15.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- Ortholite sock liner.
- Gel cushioning.
- Rubber sole.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Not appropriate for a professional work environment.
Winning Shoes
Opt for the Orthofeet Men’s Sneakers to combat that hip pain while you’re mobile—they have a lightweight design to eliminate the strain from your feet and hips.
They also offer high levels of cushioning and provide pockets of breathability to improve your comfort in high heats. With a wide toe box, you’ll never have to worry about cramped toes ever again. You’ll also appreciate the shock-absorbing platform that cushions your feet to prevent shooting pains to your hips and joints.
For the ladies, the Gravity Defyer Pain Relief Women’s Shoes feature a padded heel to eliminate stress on your feet and hips. My favorite feature is the ergonomic rocker, which absorbs the impact from your every step. These shoes are also long-lasting with a rubber sole.
