Healthy feet are an essential part of an active life, but foot pain and misalignment, such as plantar fasciitis, can cause significant problems that extend far beyond the sole of your foot.
In particular, flat feet can have a big impact on the knees and hips, so to reverse this, you first need to understand...
The connection between feet and knees
Your feet support your body and directly influence the alignment of your lower limbs. Flat feet, also known as planus plantus, often cause excessive pronation (inward turning) of the foot.
This not only puts stress on the structures of your foot, but also transfers abnormal loads upwards to the knees.
When your feet pronate excessively, it changes the position of your knees when walking and running.
Which can lead to uneven wear on the cartilage of the knee joint and increase pressure between the kneecap and the femur, often resulting in pain, stiffness and even swelling.
How does the position of the foot cause knee pain?
More pressure on the knee joint: excessive pronation causes overloading of the inside of the knee, which can contribute to wear and tear and painful conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Muscle imbalance: incorrect foot positioning can lead to muscle imbalance in the lower limbs, which in turn increases tension in the knees and can cause pain and injuries.
Kneecap misalignment: uneven pressure and trajectories caused by pronation can affect the movement of the kneecap, leading to misalignment and pain.
What do the studies say?
1,856 participants were included in the 2013 Franingham Foot Study, which found that around 39.7% of people walking on flat feet also experienced knee pain.
The study's summary also suggests that foot pain often has a clear impact on knee pain due to the normal chain of events that our bodies work through.
At its worst, it can lead to uneven wear and tear on the articular cartilage, for example.
Prevent and manage knee pain
The right footwear: choose footwear that provides adequate support and prevents excessive pronation. This will help keep your knee in the correct position and reduce pain.
Ergonomic insoles: invest in good quality insoles that support the arch of the foot and help correct the position of the foot. This is especially important if you have a low arch in your feet.
Strengthen your knees: regular exercises that strengthen the muscles around the knee can help balance the load and relieve pain.
ComfySoles - Effective Help for Foot and Knee Problems
ComfySole insoles are specifically designed to prevent and relieve foot and knee pain.
But how do they do it?
First, arch support helps you get rid of flat feet...
Then the heel padding adds stability and absorbs shocks from the often painful heel area...
And finally, the unique design of the insole adds stability to your stride and helps correct foot misalignment.
