A number of Americans suffer from sore arthritic knees, but a recent study found that it may help to relieve pressure when wearing the right style of foot.
Researchers in Australia find that knee arthritis patients are more pain eased by opting for solid and comfortable shoes than for flat lightweight boots.
The study author Rana Hinman, a professor in physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne, explained that "a 'sturdy supporting shoe' is a foot comfort shoe with features like arch support. "It also has a thick, cushioned heel and a rigid sole that does not bend easily."
Hinman said, however, "a 'flat flexible shoe' is more lightweight, contains no arch support or motion control features, has a low heel (i.e., flat) with minimal/no cushioning, and has a flexible sole that bends easily."
Around 1 out of four people aged 45 years and older have arthritic knees, Hinman reported.
A research consultant in the United States decided that special boots "bum knees" undoubtedly would feel better.
Dr. Jeffrey Schildhorn, an orthopedic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC said, "I think it's pretty intuitive that a structured shoe will be more stable and better for arthritis patients," he said. "I've found that to be true in my practice and in my life. But this study is the first to really look at this in a rigorous way, and to show with good science that this isn't just anecdotal."
Issues of the foot help
As the Australian team has noted, it is also recommended for people with crisp, sore knees to wear comfort shoes. But it is often believed that flat lightweight shoes can be more advantageous because they provide more of a "barefoot" experience.
In the current analysis, the latter theory was not won. After consulting with 164 knee arthritis patients in the Melbourne area, Hinman's team found, "58 percent of people who wore sturdy supportive shoes experienced a meaningful reduction in knee pain on walking, compared to only 40 percent of the people who wore flat flexible shoes."
Participants in the sample were 50 and over. Before starting the research, everyone had almost constant knee pain in the past month and most worn shoes had solid and flat characteristics (rated at 4 or greater on a pain scale of 11).
Around 2017 and 2019, a minimum of 6 hours a day is allotted to one and a half of the shoes, while the other half was allocated comfortable support shoes. (The team did not compare the patients' daily shoes distributed in the study.)
All footwear was available commercially. Merrell Bare Access (for men and women); Vivobarefoot Primus Lite (for men and women); Vivobarefoot Mata Canvas (for men); Converse Dainty Low (for women); and Lacoste Marice were the labels for the flat range.
ASICS Kayano (for men and women); Merrell Jungle Moc (men); Nike Air Max 90 Ultra (women); Rockport Edge Hill (men); and New Balance 624 were brands of a stable range (women).
Throughout the experiment, each patient was able to choose between two labels. Investigators kept track of recorded levels of knee pain when walking, functional ability, measures of general life satisfaction, and overall levels of physical activity.
In the end, the team concluded that while stable supporting shoes did not return patients to greater mobility than flat flexible shoes, they provided mitigation of discomfort and better quality of life with a leg up on the knee and hip.
'A Rolls-Royce above potholes'
Hinman also observed that' strong supportive shoes were much less likely to cause adverse effects on the knee and other joints, such as ankle/foot pain[or] swelling of the knee.' In comparison, she added, individuals who wear flat flexible shoes recorded half as many adverse effects as individuals who wore strong supportive shoes.
The result: "Shoes are an easy option that can help people self-manage their knee osteoarthritis pain," Hinman said. "Patients with knee osteoarthritis should think carefully about their footwear and choose shoes that are most likely to reduce their knee pain."
Schildhorn consented.
"For someone with knee arthritis," he said, "a structured shoe is almost like a Rolls-Royce going over potholes. Because the problem with an arthritic knee is that the joints aren't aligned correctly, and aren't nearly as supple anymore. And it has cartilage with gaps, like cobblestones, which wear away."
These problems can be absorbed by a structured foot, said Schildhorn. "relies on all of the joints of the body to work just as they were designed. They all have to be aligned correctly, the ligaments have to be functional, and the joints have to be supple in order to absorb loads when walking in uneven areas. Because you need your body to be able to adjust to variances." relies on all of the body's joints. They all have to be properly aligned, the ligaments have to be functional, and the joints have to be versatile in order to absorb loads when walking in uneven areas. Because you need the body to be able to adapt to variances.
The Arthritis Foundation, located in the United States, agrees that patients should pay attention to the design and fit of the shoes they are wearing. But as for best practices, it cites mixed results.
For instance, foundation experts understand that for others, secure shoes and boots (without heels) may also be beneficial.
They also highlight previous knee studies, though, showing that certain flat shoes can cause less knee stress than more stable shoes, such as flip-flops. Others can prove troublesome, though, such as poorly strapped sandals and so-called "foot gloves,"
But there is one piece of overarching advice for the foundation: Never prefer beauty over purpose and comfort.
