Not to be rude of any sort, but if walking on concrete for an hour hurt your back, then what your floors are made out of should be the least of your concerns. I would check out that back first.

Does your back normally hurt if you walk on a hard surface for a while like at the mall, or Walmart?
If it hasn't in the past then you might of done something to your back recently. I don't ask this to be condescending, and I'm sure you have asked your self these questions already.

I just say this because having a hard surface floor in your home can be great, but not putting one in due to back pain unfortunate.

I am assuming you have something soft in the kitchen now, like carpet?

No low back problems. I have to be honest, I haven't been in a situation that I was on such a hard surface in a very long time. We presently have hardwood floors through out our home expect hall and BathR's. Neither of these are you standing or walking on for long periods. I won't deny age and wear and tear could have contributed to the pain. It was gone by the next day. I just wondered if a tile floor on foundation with joices is the different that a concrete floor.

Shopping malls, super markets, big box stores...

All have slab floors, covered with a thin layer of vinyl if they are covered at all.

If these don't bother you, neither should your floor. A lot depends on our body mechanics, though. If you stand still in a cocked hip pose for 10 or 20 minutes while engaged in conversation [for instance], you are very likely to have some muscle spasms when you start moving again.

Our bodies need maintenence, and need more of it as we grow older. MSM to keep the joints free and smooth, yoga or similar stretches to maintain flexibility and proper alignment, and a certain amount of resistance exercise for strength and tone.

My back gives me less trouble now than it did twenty years ago. All it wanted was to be treated with a little respect...

Thanks for info. I probably did do exactly what you said where a grocery store is walking the whole time. But even that I haven't been for over an hour. This just surprised me as well as the discomfort. Our debate has been ceramic/proceline tile vs wood in our new kitchen.

I have ceramic in my kitchen...not on a slab, but over cement board. Yes I notice my back bothers me more when i am standing and cooking for hours....but not as bad as it does when I am standing cooking in the church floor on concrete. Go figure!
Linda C

I think I'm going to invest in one of these chef's gel floor mats for the prep/cook area, and maybe one in front of the clean-up sink, for our tile floors.
Wood in the kitchen is more stress and work than I'm willing to put up with (again). Would never, ever do wood with an ice/water dispenser, chasing stray ice cubes before they melt in the corner.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gel floor mat

Thanks again for information. I have some time before the decision must be made so I will pay more attention. Today I may be in an area that probably be concrete. Much as I like tile I certainly don't want to put one in and find it to be a problem.