Save Your Knees with the Right Shoe
Footwear manufacturers focus on foot comfort and stability. But a new study focused on the effects of shoes on your knees.
In a study presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Scientific Meeting on November 8th, researchers showed how various types of footwear impacted the amount of load and its placement on the knee joint. Osteoarthritis tends to be seen in people whose knees are high loading (have high amounts of stress on part or all of the knee joint).
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago tested a well known brand of clogs, a stability athletic shoe (stability shoes restrict side to side motion of the foot), a flat, flexible walking shoe and flip flops on 18 men and women who had radiographic and symptomatic evidence of knee osteoarthritis. After the participants got used to walking in the various shoes, the researchers analyzed their gait with high tech equipment to determine the load on the knee as compared to walking barefoot.
The clog and the stability shoe were associated with significantly greater load on the knee compared to barefoot walking, while the flexible walking shoe and flip flops were similar to walking barefoot in terms of knee loading. Researchers concluded that the shoes you wear could have a significant impact on whether your knees suffer damage which leads to osteoarthritis and how fast the disease progresses.
The clogs and stability shoes did not allow the foot its normal pronation, (flattening of the arch, which unlocks the joints of the foot allowing shock absorption). This means the shock of ground forces may travel up the leg to the ankles knees and hips.
But does that mean you should throw out your clogs and cross trainers and go barefoot?
Not so fast.
“The load you put on the knee is only one factor to consider,” says James Christina, DPM, Director of Scientific Affairs for the American Podiatric Medical Association. “Some people develop arthritis because of excessive pronation which injures the knee, so they may need a stability shoe, but with more cushioning. Everyone needs to be considered as an individual case. If you have osteoarthritis already, it would make sense to have your gait evaluated so that the best possible shoe recommendations could be made. Generally speaking, I would advise people to try various types of shoes, flexible, motion control, cushioned and combinations, to see what feels best.”
Speaking of shoes, in another study researchers discovered that 60% of diabetics tend to wear their shoes too small. That’s bad, because diabetics with ill-fitting shoes risk ulcers, infections, amputation – even death, if problems are left untreated.
The reason diabetics are getting a poor fit? They tend to lose sensation in their feet so unless the shoe is tight, they tend to think it’s a bit too large. That’s a good reason for diabetics to make sure their shoes are fit by a professional who understands their particular need for happy, healthy feet.
