3 Things You Need To Know About Orthotics And Runner's Knee
Runner's knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is a painful knee condition that can affect runners or other athletes. This knee condition can be caused by biomechanical issues in your feet, like high arches or flat feet. If sore knees are keeping you from running, orthotic treatment may be able to help you return to your favorite sport. Here are three things you need to know about orthotics and runner's knee.
How do foot issues cause runner's knee?
If your feet have high arches, they won't provide as much cushioning as they would if your arches were a normal height. This reduced cushioning means that your knees are subjected to more stress when you run, and since many recreational runners take around 160 steps per minute, that stress adds up!
If your feet are flat, you may overpronate when you run. This means that your feet roll inwards when you run because your arches can't support the weight of your step. Overpronating is a problem because it doesn't allow your feet to properly absorb the forces of your steps. Since your feet don't absorb these forces, your knees have to do the job, and this can lead to runner's knee.
How do orthotics treat this problem?
Orthotics will treat your high arches or flat feet. Your podiatrist will examine your feet and watch you walk to determine which of these problems is responsible for your sore knees.
If you have high arches, you'll need total-contact orthotics. These orthotics support the entire bottom of your foot and spread the force of your steps along your entire foot. This helps your feet absorb shocks, and for additional shock absorption, these orthotics can be made of soft materials like foam.
If you have flat feet, you'll need semi-rigid inserts to provide support for your fallen arches. These inserts may have a heel wedge to keep your feet from turning inwards when you run.
Will you need to wear orthotics forever?
Orthotics aren't a permanent fix for high arches or flat feet, so if you stop wearing your inserts, your knees will start to hurt again. While orthotics may feel uncomfortable at first, your feet will get used to them, and you'll be able to comfortably run while wearing your orthotics. If you don't want to wear orthotics, your podiatrist can recommend a permanent fix for your foot problems, like surgery.
If you suffer from runner's knee, see a podiatrist (like those from Orvitz Podiatry Clinic foot care) to find out if your feet are the cause of the problem. If foot issues are responsible, they can be treated with orthotics.
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