Many of us suffer from chronic pain in the knees, hips or lower back. Often there is a connection between these complaints and the way you go. This article throws more light on knee pain and in particular how abnormal foot mechanics or asymmetry in our course can affect knee function, resulting in pain and discomfort.

Typical symptoms of pain in the knee. . .

“A sharp pain in his knee and a grinding sensation, especially when rising from a chair or climbing stairs.”

This description of knee pain is most common, and refers to a so-called Patello-femoral syndrome. Patello-femoral syndrome is the most common form of chronic knee pain. It refers to pain occurring between the kneecap (patella) and the underlying thigh bone (femur). Patello-femoral syndrome causes pain and tenderness in the front of the knee. The pain gets worse when sitting for a long time and get up. Or if you walk stairs. Often we feel a grinding or gnashing of experience in the knee.

What exactly causes knee pain?

There are various causes of knee pain. With age comes wear and tear in the knee joint. Also on the use causes knee problems (for example, in rugby / football players and craftsmen in such carpenters, masons, etc.). Over time, softening of the cartilage under the kneecap (patella) is in the tissue breakdown and pain in the knee joint lead. Instead of gliding smoothly over the knee, the kneecap grinds against the thigh when the knee moves. This in turn can lead to severe erosion of the cartilage. Apart from age and overuse, the third most common cause of the knee pain is out of gear (ie the way we walk). Pronation (rolling inwards of the feet = and lowering of the arch) is an important factor for knee pain.

Here are the reasons. . .

The knee is the connecting link between the upper and lower leg. It is a joint that is only designed to bend and extend the leg, and it does not rotate. Unlike, for example, your elbow, move your forearm up and down, and a rotation (turn) allows. Pronation of the feet means that with each step, the foot rolls inward too much. As the foot rolls inward to the bones of the lower leg are forced to rotate internally, and this results in a rotation knee joint. This irregular motion of the knee will inevitably lead to excessive wear in the knee cause long term damage and chronic knee pain. Pronation causes not only poor function of the knee. An estimated 70% of the population suffers from some pronation and this is evident in other areas of the body, especially when they are older. People with symptoms such as frequent ankle sprains can pronation, pain in arms, leg pain, shin splints, hip pain, including pain in the lower back display.

treatment options for knee pain

The most commonly prescribed treatments by physiotherapists include residual (or reduced activity) , ice packs, and sometimes wearing a knee brace and strengthening exercises. In addition, orthotics shoe inserts is recommended to stabilize the feet and arms, proper function of the foot. Footlogics orthoses can be used to prevent the unnatural rotation of the leg, so that treatment of the cause for this type of pain in the knee. By supporting the arches to force the ankles and legs back into alignment, reducing the spin on the knee and thus providing relief of the painful knee.

A series of studies have demonstrated that can distort the functioning of the knee by foot orthotics can be restored. Below are the extracts of two of these studies:

Study 1) The effect of orthoses on patellofemoral pain syndrome (Knee Pain) – Amol Saxena, DPM and Jack Haddad, DPM – Department of Sports Medicine, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Palo Alto, CA.

. The combined disorders were diagnosed in 89th 3% of patients. The subjects were issued 46 women and 54 men aged 12-87 years (mean, 37 9 years, SD 15 9), the excessive forefoot varus or rearfoot varus. The initial screening and clinical diagnosis was based on an examination by an orthopedic surgeon. Particular attention was paid to patellar crepitation, patellofemoral malalignment, Q-angle measurements, limiting the mobility and knee effusion. The patients were evaluated for the onset and the duration of the patellofemoral pain and the degree of knee joint disease. Semiflexible orthoses for each subject were produced, based on a clinical biomechanical examination of the lower extremity. On their follow-up visit, 76 5% were improved, showing a significant decrease in the amount of pain associated with orthopedic surgery (Chi-square P <. 001). Although several treatment options are used for these patients, the results suggest that the use of orthoses semiflexible significant reduction of symptoms of PFPS / RPD. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 93 (4): 264-271, 2003)

Study 2) The Role of Foot Orthotics as an intervention for patellofemoral Pain (Knee Pain) – Michael T. Gross, PT, PHD1-Judy L. Foxworth, PT, MS, OCS2

Foot orthoses are often prescribed for patients with patellofemoral knee pain. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to verify the theoretical basis and research, that this assistance could help, and offer our own clinical experience in the provision of orthoses for these patients. The literature is reviewed in relation to (a) the effect of orthoses on pain and function, (2) the relationship between the foot and lower-extremity/patellofemoral joint mechanics, (3) the effect of orthoses on lower extremity mechanics, and (4) Impact of orthoses on patellofemoral joint position. The literature and our own clinical experience suggests that patients can benefit with patellofemoral pain of braces, if they can prove are signs of excessive pronation of the foot and / or lower extremity alignment, indicating that excessive lower limb contains internal rotation during exercise and increased Q angle. The mechanism of orthotic devices with a positive effect on pain and function for these patients (1) reduction in the internal rotation of the lower extremity, (2) a reduction of the Q-angle, (3) reduces soft tissue laterally directed forces from the patellar tendon, the quadriceps tendon and the iliotibial band, and (4) reduces patellofemoral contact pressures and altered patellofemoral contact pressure mapping. Foot orthoses may be a valuable addition to other intervention strategies for patients presenting with the previously mentioned structural alignment profile. J Orthop Phys There 2003; 33:661-670.