Knee pain can be frustrating, debilitating, and confusing.
What helps and what hurts? How do orthotics fit into the equation?
Some anecdotal claims insist that orthotics might make knee pain worse–and that’s the last thing you want to happen. Others insist that orthotics can be a lifesaver.
What’s the truth about the link between your feet and your knees? How much can orthotics help with knee pain–and can they ever hurt?
Let’s find out!
The Link Between the Foot and Knee
Your feet and knees are linked literally–it should come as no surprise that one affects the other when it comes to pain! The amount of impact generated when you walk, the way your feet are aligned, and the way that force is distributed as you take each step has a significant impact not only on your feet and heels themselves, but on your knees!
Orthotics are a tried and true way to drastically improve foot pain–here’s what you need to know about the connection between orthotics and knee pain!
Benefits of Using Orthotics for Knee Pain
Shock Absorption:
Knee pain can be caused or made much worse by the amount of force generated to your joints (especially your knees!) each time you take a step. Orthotics can help distribute that force more evenly throughout the foot and ankle, which in turn distributes force more evenly to your knees.
Cushioning:
In the same vein, orthotics can provide cushioning to your feet and heels, which reduces the amount of impact your knees will feel when you walk or run.
Alignment:
Orthotics can help improve alignment of the foot and ankle, which in turn improves alignment of the knees and creates a healthier gait. Supination or overpronation (in which the foot turns too far inward or outward) can mean that undue stress and impact are absorbed by the feet–which is in turn absorbed by your knees! Orthotics help correct this problem.
Cautions When Using Orthotics for Knee Pain
Break Them in:
Wearing orthotics can feel slightly strange at first. It’s important to give yourself time to break your orthotics in–wearing them by increasing amounts of time over the space of about a week until you’re wearing them full time.
Practice Holistic Healing:
Orthotics should be used in conjunction with other treatments for your knees. Using orthotics alone while continuing practices that make your knee pain worse won’t help nearly as much. Be sure to include plenty of rest, stretching, and icing as recommended by your doctor.
Get the Best Bang for Your Dollar:
Orthotics are often incredibly heavy–and they can get expensive! Slip-in Heel Seats are one of the most popular choices for effective (and cost-effective) orthotics.
Can I Develop Knee Pain from Orthotics?
You may have seen threads on the internet or heard questions about whether orthotics can somehow worsen knee pain. The short answer is no. When orthotics are worn properly, studies have found that people suffering from knee pain reported significantly reduced levels of pain after wearing orthotics. The Framingham study group found that there’s a particular connection between knee pain relief and orthotics when flat feet were involved, perhaps because of the increased impact flat-footers generate when walking without orthotics.
As always, make sure you introduce orthotics into your life gradually instead of all at once (over the period of about a week) and ensure they fit correctly and snugly against the back of your shoe.
If you suffer from knee pain, orthotics can be a great way to start your healing from the ground up!
I was diagnosed from a x-ray that I had osteoarthritis in my left knee. I have constant pain and use “alieve” tablets everyday. Can orthotics relieve this pain?
Hi Peggy
Our orthotics are 100% guaranteed, so there’s no harm trying!
Hi there i have had treatment by a physio on my knee since i was a child as i have unstable joints and resulting in osteoarthritis , since he prescribed Plantar Fasciitis insoles and i have used the special sandals in has improved 95% and is bearable i would give them a go ,till you get used to them it feels strange , but i think worth the trouble .
Orthotics I ordered from chiropractor after for mold fitting. Big mistake. I kept trying them after being told I would have to get used to them. I am in constant pain now from the arch in the orthotics pushing hard on my foot. I finally fond shoes that I paid less for than the orthotics that I can at least walk in. I go too sleep with foot pain every night nite and wake up with it. be really careful with orthotics. I’m hoping my foot heals. One is better. One isn’t.
Orthotics are amazing but make sure you get fitted properly from a doctor. Got rid of my knee pain and my heal spurs. I am on my feet for 12 hour days and was in a lot of pain but now feel 100% better. Also make sure you change them once a calendar year, for the same support.
I have only an issue with the outside of my knees. Can orthotics be used to *slightly* re-align the foot to take a little pressure off the outside of the knee joint by raising the inside of the foot?
I have a medial meniscus tear with the torn bit now a loose body.
Can an orthotic help with pain
I have arthritis in both knees and a meniscus tear in my left knee!I have orthotics from a Dr Shoals kiosk,seem not to be helping! Any advice?
I’ve been wearing orthodics for 25-30 years, the first 2 pairs were from a podiatrist, the 3rd from my chiropractor. I suffer from chronic knee pain due to a broken patella (cast for 6 weeks then surgery to remove scar tissue), then a tibial plateau fracture 4 years later. I was told I have arthritis and bone on bone and would be a candidate for knee replacement. I’ve found, instead of relying on “devices” for knee pain, to get to the root of the knee pain. I found a man named Bill Parravano, The Knee Pain Guru, on line. I’ve been working with his program for 4 months, he gets to the “heart” of the matter about why you have pain in your knees, back, ankles and hips-all your joints are interconnected. My knee pain has gone from pain to just a feeling of discomfort. Check his web site out, he makes more sense than any doctor I’ve ever talked to.
I have flat knee caps that move in and out of the groove. Lots of pain when walking. I found where custom made orthotics make my knees feel strange and also I find my knees are a bit knock kneed. My right knee cap has been pulled outwards slightly and no amount of exercise is doing any good. I really don’t know what I can do. I can’t walk for me than 10 mins without them tightening up on the outside. Any advice out there