Best Running Shoes for Herniated Disc – [Complete Guidelines]

If you’re like most people, you probably take your health for granted. You probably think that you’d be able to run and jump and play without any problems until you’re seventy years old.

But what if you’re not able to do that? What if you’re in constant pain and you can’t do the things you love? If that’s the case, you may need to start looking for the best running shoes for herniated discs.

There are a lot of different shoes on the market, and it can be tough to find the right one. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.

We’ve compiled a list of the best shoes for herniated discs, and we’ll help you find the perfect pair for your needs.

Mizuno Wave Prophecy 8

The Mizuno Wave Prophecy 8 pair is a high-end running shoe that is designed for athletes to provide a lot of cushioning and support.

These shoes have multiple features, like DynamotionFit upper. This upper is designed to provide a snug fit to ensure there’s no unwanted room inside the shoes. Along with that, the U4icX midsoles adapt your feet’ posture to ensure maximum comfort.

As the shoes are for runners with disc injuries, the manufacturer has made the pair to support the arch, heel, and toes of patients. The supportive Wave plate inside the product lets runners speed up without worrying about any injury.

The model also has a Smooth Ride design that is designed to help runners move more efficiently. And you don’t have to worry about longevity at all. The X10 carbon rubber outsoles keep the pair good for several months.

Overall, Prophecy 8 is one of the specially made shoes for herniated discs. It allows runners to move naturally despite having any issues at the backbone or waist. You can use them to get relief from older injuries.

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 V11

Now, this model is a top-of-the-line running shoe designed to support bad backs. The shoes are made of a durable and breathable mesh fabric at the top. There are also comfortable and supportive collars to keep the ankle steady.

The Fresh Foam midsoles are there for you to run for hours. Unlike any average shoes, this pair won’t be hurting your toes when you go for longer distances. The shape of the midsoles is pretty friendly to larger and wider toe alignment.

Besides all that, the blown rubber outsoles also offer good traction and durability. You can run on muddy or slippery tracks using these shoes. Though there are no visible spikes in the outsoles, the tread patterns help to keep your feet biting the ground pretty hard.

Ultimately, the 1080 V11 is a good option for all-weather outdoor exercise. The waterproof construction can keep your feet dry and walk around like usual times. Not to forget, the design also seems good enough to match any outfit.

Brooks Ghost 11

The Brooks Ghost 11 is a neutral running shoe model for daily training and long-distance running even if your lower backbone or tailbone hurts. It features a new engineered mesh upper for a comfy fit without feeling too tight. Additionally, the mesh is meant to be more durable and breathable than traditional uppers.

The Ghost 11 also features a new BioMoGo DNA midsole cushioning system. It adopts the posture of your feet while landing your legs on the ground. The crash pad here also helps to release the stress from taking heavy steps on the ground.

The toe box area isn’t roomy like other Brooks models. But still, Ghost 11 toe boxes don’t squeeze your toes. Instead, smaller toe boxes can avoid your feet slipping inside the shoes.

And most importantly, the rubber outsoles can bend quite easily. You can sprint, jump, or crawl with this footwear precisely. Overall, quality shoes for herniated disc issue.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 14

When you’re trying to do workouts to reduce your back pain, you should use Inspire 14 shoes. These shoes can give your heel the stability you need to fix your bad body posture. The model weighs less to help patients move around without having too much stress.

The major part of the uppers contain thick, yet soft mesh with ventilation features. You won’t sweat even after hours of running with this awesome Inspire 14. There’s no stitching or sewing on the uppers that can hurt your feet.

Users can also remove the insoles if they want. These insoles work like premium custom orthotics. The orthotics-like insoles would reduce the pressure from feet caused by abnormal body movements.

These shoes might not be the best shoes for L5-S1 herniated discs in sprints. But for running and jogging, the model is truly effective to reduce back pain. You can move your legs without putting stress on injured joints. But when you use them for sprint running, there can be a possibility of getting hurt.

HOKA ONE ONE Gaviota 2

The pair we’re reviewing now is a well-rounded option that is perfect for everyday use. It has a versatile design that makes it suitable for a variety of activities, including running, walking, and hiking. The shoes are made of high-quality materials that provide a comfortable and supportive fit. They also have a durable construction that will last for years.

Older people can suffer from sensitive bones. The Gaviota 2 is the right choice for them to work out despite suffering from aging issues. Anybody can lift their legs while these shoes are put on. They are lighter than other sports shoes and perform fine.

The uppers have only mesh construction. There’s no extra padding over the mesh. That’s why feet won’t sweat after miles of walking.

Surprisingly, the tongue is also breathable. Along with supporting heel joints, Gaviota shoe 2 tongues keep your feet cool and dry. This feature helps a senior person to exercise with comfort to keep sound health.

Undoubtedly, this product is good for all sorts of joggers for walking or doing exercises. But somehow, we can’t recommend this one for races or running as the arch support and heel construction can fully regulate the pressure.

Saucony Redeemer ISO 2 Running Shoe

If you’re in the market for a new running shoe, the Saucony Redeemer ISO 2 Running Shoes are an excellent option. There are many doctors who recommend this model to get relief from calf and ankle pain. For this reason, you can assume this as reliable footwear no matter what type of injury you have in your bones.

The continuous cushioning is great when you require fast movement. The midsoles and mesh uppers can bend or get compressed according to your feet’ position and come back to the actual shape without any delay.

You won’t find too many features in this model. Even so, it’s a great choice to use for recovering from injuries in the lower backbone, knees, heels, and arches. The softness can let you feel you’re just wearing socks and nothing else. But the supports from lower ends would keep your legs standing firmly on any ground.

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 20 Running Shoe

Do you have high arches? Then, no worries. Asics Nimbus 20 can be great footwear for you. The pair surely fits perfectly on feet and gives a minimum amount of stress to users.

The GEL foam technology is the best cushioning system that lets quick and precise bounce back to escalate your movement in tracks. Along with that, this function also has the ability to take extra weight without getting squashed. So, you can consider this model as good stuff for heavy people.

However, the main attraction of this product is the Fliudride midsoles that feature both cushioning and responsiveness to any amount of pressure and weight. Nonetheless, this part of the shoes reduces the total weight of the product and makes Nimbus 20 a model light as clouds.

Asics GEL Nimbus 20 is better than previous versions of the series. The toe boxes are also wider for making people with wide feet comfortable wearing the footwear for hours. The density of foams used here is decent enough to last for years. You can expect Nimbus 20 to support in marathon races too.

Buying Guide: Things to Consider Before Buying The Best Running Shoes for Herniated Disc

Not all shoes are created equal, and many shoes can actually make your condition worse. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for shoes to help ease the pain of a herniated disc.

Arch Support

Arch support is an essential part of a shoe’s insole. It allows your foot to keep the natural shape of the arch without feeling any pain. The arch support-integrated shoes hold the lower part of the feet to release pressure while walking.

If you have a history of facing any serious injury to your legs or back, you should wear shoes with arch supports. Like heels and toe supports, arch supports also release stress and reduce pain.

Heel height

When considering heel height, you need to think of two things; stack height and heel drop.

The stack height is the height of the outsoles in the heel area. It should be around 10 mm in the case of running shoes.

Heel drop is the measurement when you subtract the height of the outsole’s toe region from the heel height when you place the shoe on plain ground. Usually, running shoes feature 10 mm of heel drop.

The main catch here is the less the heel drop becomes, the faster you can move along with improving natural leg motion. But make sure the pair you purchase has at least a 1 mm heel drop. Otherwise, you won’t be able to run with herniated disc pain.

Pronation

There are several different types of running shoes, including neutral shoes, stability shoes, and motion control shoes. Each type of shoe is designed for a different type of runner.

Neutral shoes are best for runners who have a normal foot strike, while stability shoes are the right choice for people who have moderate pronation. Lastly, motion control shoes can help overpronated feet to move forward without hurting any bone.

One thing you need to remember is pronation fully depends on the arch. Feet with normal arches have neutral pronation. Underpronation occurs because of lower arches, and the reason behind overpronation is just the opposite of underpronation.

Material

Shoes made of soft materials are often the best choice for those with a herniated disc. Soft materials will help cushion your feet and reduce the pressure on your spine.

So, the midsoles need to consist of high-density foams. Rubber outsoles would be perfect for those who have painful back to get better traction. And most importantly, mesh uppers are perfect for having breathable space inside shoes.

Summary

As we come to the end of our blog on the best running shoes for herniated discs, we hope you’ve got what you’re looking for.

If you are suffering from a herniated disc for quite a long time, we urge you to consult with a doctor to determine the best course of treatment for you. When you don’t get the proper treatment, the pain could get permanent, and you’d lose your natural free body movement.