Let’s guess, you want to run but you find it demotivating because every time you run the crushing pain in your hips wants to just stop and scream. Well, that’s because you didn’t choose the right gear, especially shoes for your running sessions. Lucky for you we have done our research and found our favorite best running shoes for hip pain.
But before we dive into that, let’s explain why you must be experiencing hip pain during running.
Hip Pain And Running?
One of the major and most common causes of hip pain during running is the compression of your lumbar nerves.
The lumbar nerves originate in the lower level of your spinal cord (vertebra) and supply the muscles of your leg and foot. Now if the nerves are compressed due to some reason, it sends impulses down the leg that you experience as pain.
What causes the compression of the nerves? Glad you asked. One of the significant causes of nerve compression is the loss or lessening of shock absorption in the vertebra from where the nerves originate.
Now we won’t be going into detailed anatomy, but the vertebral column has some amount of built-in shock absorption in it. And when it loses that shock absorption, it causes pain in the legs and hips area.
This brings us to our main point. Since the vertebra has excused its shock absorption, you need to find another way to enhance your shock absorption abilities. And this is where the shoes come in. the best running shoes for hip pain are the ones that offer maximum shock absorption and are either flexible or stable or both.
Hence, in our guide, even if we don’t mention it, which is unlikely, you should understand that a particular shoe has good shock absorption abilities. Since there are other features too we would like to highlight them while keeping things concise. Let’s get started.
Best Running Shoes For Hip Pain
1. Gravity Defyer Proven Pain Relief Women’s G-Defy Mighty Walk
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Features
VetroShock Technology
The VetroShock technology is a patented spring system. And since it is a spring system, its capabilities to absorb maximum shock for the ground upon strike are quite unmatched. Plus, the spring system makes this technology quite durable as well. It won’t wear off no matter how frequent or how strong the shocks are.
The shock absorption technology not only helps you with shock absorption but also a smooth transition from heel to toe. This means a more stable form and faster running, without hip pain.
Removable insoles
You might already be using an orthotic. Which is great. But sometimes you buy shoes that are already too shallow to place your orthotics in. Well, not for this one though.
The insoles of these shoes are removable. You can create some extra space by removing the insoles to place your orthotics in if you find the shoes to be a little shallow for your orthotics and feet both placed together with the insole.
Toe box
The toe box of these shoes is quite wide. This makes these shoes quite comfortable to run in. Because let’s be honest, you wouldn’t want an uncomfortable, painful, or tingly sensation around your toes when you’re already conscious of the pain that’s been radiating over your hips all day long.
Plus, you can always have some extra wiggle room at your disposal with a wide-toe box, which is something we all appreciate. Don’t we?
Pros
- Great shock absorption for heel and hip pain
- Wide toe box
- Seamless interior for sensitive feet
Cons
- Could use some padding around the heel area
- The shoe length sometimes runs short
2. OrthoFeet walking shoes
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Features
Arch support
Arch support is something most runners with hip pain need. Hence, the best running shoes for hip pain always offer some degree of arch support
As for the OrthoFeet, the arch support is almost next level. The premium Orthotic insoles featured in these shoes provide one of the most natural arch support (or to put it in their own words; anatomical arch support) out there. Also, the multiple layers of cushioning along with the arch support make sure your arches are supported with maximum comfort.
Width
These shoes are quite wide when compared to normal running and walking shoes. This is something that we appreciate since a wide shoe for runners with hip pain means less stress on the joints of the foot. And when the stress is less, the compression is less. Since your tendons won’t need to put on extra energy and pulling force (hence contraction of muscles) on those joints.
Also, a wide shoe offers quite a bit of stability as well, which is again great because you need your form to be as stable as possible to avoid any unwanted, painful compressions.
Toe box
The toe box on these shoes is wide too. You could’ve guessed this from the extra width of the shoes. But anyhow, it is something worth mentioning because everyone seems to be big fan of wide-toe boxes. And why wouldn’t they be?
Pros
- Orthotic insoles
- Extended widths
- Multiple cushioning layers
Cons
- Not slip resistant
- A little less durable
3. WHITIN Women’s Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe
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Features
Sockliner
The sock liner on these shoes is quite cushioned as far as sock liners go. And they are removable as well. This is always a plus for runners who experience hip pain. You can always remove the insoles to create some extra space for orthotics, or perhaps for you to get some barefoot feeling on your shoes.
Zero drop
These shoes are essentially zero drop shoes, meaning they have non-elevated soles. Now for most people out there, this might not be the best thing. But if you want to build your leg muscles for better shock absorption and eventually lesser pain, go ahead and buy them.
Please do know that if the hip pain is too excruciating, you would want to switch to a support shoe until the pain is bearable enough.
That said, zero-drop shoes are the best for building excellent natural stability and alignment, and hence ward-off future injuries.
Toe box
The toe box of these shoes is again wide enough to give you enough wiggle room. This is always a plus, especially for zero-drop shoes because you want as much comfort as you can get since you are already putting quite an effort into neutralizing the zero drop.
Pros
- Non-elevated soles
- Removable insoles
- Roomy toe box
Cons
- Not water resistant
- Traction needs improvement
4. OrthoFeet
Amazon affiliate link.
Amazon affiliate link. BUY NOW
Features
Insole cushioning
The insole cushioning of these shoes is next level. Designed especially for feet with some very common medical conditions.
With the multiple layers of cushion, these shoes not only provide maximum comfort but offer remarkable arch support as well. The elevation of the arches is in a way that they can easily turn a normal running experience into a pleasant one
Interior lining
The interior lining of these shoes is extremely smooth. That with the extra padding gives them a cloud-like softness on the inside.
The lining is specially featured for those with medical conditions like diabetes, arthritis, neuropathy, or simply sensitive skin. These conditions can create the most unpleasant situations when the skin is rubbed against the insides of the shoes. But thankfully though, the conditions cannot harm your feet once they’re inside these shoes.
Orthotic friendly
These shoes have a little more depth to them than normal running shoes and that is designed especially to make these shoes afford orthotic devices.
Although for some of the devices, you would still need to remove the insoles but not always, as the depth of these shoes are quite good in themselves as well.
Pros
- Good depth
- Highly comfortable
- Great padding
Cons
- A little too stiff
- Could use a little more heel padding
5. Gravity Defyer Proven Pain Relief Women’s G-Defy Ion Athletic
Shoes
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Features
Breathability
The shoes feature a mesh upper which is one of the main reasons why these shoes are so breathable.
It’s nice to have fresh feet all the time during running. The reason we think this is a feature of the best running shoes for hip pain is that people with hip pain experience more exertion during running. And there’s no need to let your feet lose their freshness during your heavy exertions.
Removable insoles
As the heading suggests, the insoles in these shoes are removable. This is a feature that’s quite common in best running shoes for hip pain since people with pain normally use orthotics and they need room in their shoes to accommodate their running devices.
Flexibility
Flexibility is something you need as a runner with hip pain because you want to preserve your natural gait as much as possible to lessen the chances of experiencing pain during running.
Thankfully though, these shoes are quite flexible to help you preserve your form and not let your feet be under the strain of a different, forced form.
Pros
- Flexible
- Breathable
- Front rolling forefoot design
Cons
- A little less durable
- Needs more padding around the ankles
Comparison Chart
| Product name | Rating | Price | Dimensions | Weight |
|
1. Gravity Defyer Proven Pain Relief Women’s G-Defy Mighty Walk Amazon affiliate link. |
4.2 / 5 |
$133.00 – $155.00 |
16 x 7 x 5 inches |
2 lbs |
|
Amazon affiliate link. |
4.2 / 5 | $129.95 | N/A | 3 lbs |
|
3. WHITIN Women’s Barefoot & Minimalist Amazon affiliate link. |
4.3 / 5 | $7.90 – $37.99 |
12 x 4.3 x 4 inches |
1 lb |
|
4. OrthoFeet Amazon affiliate link. |
4.2 / 5 | $129.95 | N/A | 3 lbs |
|
5. Gravity Defyer Proven Pain Relief Women’s G-Defy Ion Athletic Shoes Amazon affiliate link. |
3.9 / 5 | $99.95 – $209.99 | 12.6 x 9.6 x 5.1 inches | 2 lbs |
The Buying Guide On Best Running Shoes For Hip Pain
Support
Support is the first thing you’d want to analyze when looking for the best running shoes for hip pain. Different shoes offer different types of support. Some are more focused on heel support, others favor ankle support while some mainly offer arch support only.
Make sure you get the shoes with the proper support or else things can get quite uncomfortable real quick. And not just uncomfortable. Without proper arch support, your feet will likely be either over-pronated or supinated during intense running sessions. That is the last thing you’d want to happen as they can not only displace tendons but also make serious injuries a possibility.
Shock absorption
As stated at the beginning of this article, the main thing that makes these shoes the best running shoes for hip pain is that they offer a good deal of shock absorption.
If the shoes do not offer exceptional shock absorption, then they are not the best running shoes for hip pain. The main point of shoes being great for hip pain is that they can absorb stride shock and hence reduce the compression on your discs (intervertebral discs).
Reduced compressions on the disc will reduce the strain on your nerves and hence lesser pain during running.
If you feel like you still experience pain whilst wearing shoes with good shock absorption. Consider switching to shoes with enhanced padding around the heels and maybe even air pockets in the heels as they can greatly enhance the already built-in shock absorption feature of the shoes.
Also, make sure you have good ankle support in your shoes as well if you still feel like shock absorption alone can not suffice. The combo of ankle support with shock absorption can be very comfortable.
Depth
If you’re a runner with hip pain, you have already been prescribed some sort of orthotic device.
Make sure the shoes that you buy are deep enough to accommodate your orthotic device. And if they are not deep, at least make sure they have removable insoles.
Because nothing is more frustrating than ordering a shoe from amazon only to find out that not only is it shallow but its insole is not removable as well.
Conclusion
And that’s it for our guide on the best running shoes for hip pain. We hope you found this article useful and we hope you plan healthy, and safe runs for the future.
You can also try out this Knee brace if you are facing knee pain.