Dull, aching knees are the bane of many people, preventing them from doing the activities they enjoy. When knee pain strikes, we quickly look for a cause and a cure, but experts say we may be looking in the wrong place.
The way a person walks can have a huge impact on the health of their knees. If your feet roll inwards too far or tip outwards, it will cause the lower leg to move in such a way that it places extra pressure on the knee each time you take a step.
If the ankle does not have as much range of motion as it should, it can have an effect on the knees as well. Differing leg lengths, a common problem affecting many people, can also lead to knee pain as the discrepancy can create stress on the knee joints. If you are suffering from pain behind, below, or on the sides of the kneecap, book an appointment with your family doctor and consider visiting a certified pedorthist. Pedorthics is the management and treatment of conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities requiring fitting, fabricating, and adjusting of pedorthic devices.
A credentialed pedorthist is a specialist in using footwear – which includes shoes, shoe modifications, foot orthoses, and other pedorthic devices – to solve problems in, or related to, the foot and lower limb. When a foot requires medical attention, footwear becomes a factor in the patient’s treatment, recovery, or rehabilitation. It’s a team approach: While the doctor treats your foot, the credentialed pedorthist addresses your footwear needs.
