Wednesday, June 10, 2020
A lot of people getting off the couch after the coronavirus quarantine appear to be experiencing foot and knee pain as they get back into exercise.
The team at OrthoCincy says for weeks, many of us have been staying off our feet as we stay indoors, and if you’re experiencing foot pain, you may need to see a podiatrist. A new study says foot and knee pain, however, may now be linked to
what you’re wearing on your feet.
Tom Krallman said he’s waited weeks in this pandemic to get in to see a foot specialist. So long that, due to his arthritis, a few other things hurt too.
“My knees. I’ve always had a little trouble,” said Krallman. “I played college football. Never had stuff torn or broken, but had my ligament stretched.”
Dr. Matt Connolly said good foot care is a must for routine or repetitive-type problems, but those problems can cause pain from the feet on up, according to new research published by the American College of Rheumatology, especially if you’re active in the wrong kind of shoes.
That research shows what you’re wearing on your feet post-pandemic could make a big difference for your future health. Researchers compared peak knee loads for both men and women in everything from running shoes to flip flops. They found more knee pain reported in those wearing a shoe without support.
“The high arch foot type is a good lever but bad shock absorber and you end up getting shocks up the knee. More knee problems, for example,” said Dr. Connolly.
He suggests getting shoes that have support or not wearing last year's walking or running shoes that might be worn down.
If you try these suggestions and the pain doesn’t improve, make sure you see your health care provider.