A short post today, drawn once again from the comment section.
Someone threw out the question: What’s the best footwear for someone with knee pain?
Ah yes. This is familiar territory. In Hong Kong, one of my experiments was with a pair of fancy $100 shoes that promised to lessen my knee pain by some impressive percentage.
I was really eager to try these out, thinking they might even shorten my time to healing. So I put them on and ... it was a disaster. They didn’t help at all. $100 down the toilet.
Now, sometimes I suppose that your physical therapist might advise special footwear to correct some “imbalance” in your step or stride.
I would be rather skeptical about this. That’s me anyway. Physical therapists all too often like to put forth theories of pain resulting from crookedness and imbalances.
I’m doubtful that malalignment is a significant problem for most knee pain patients, as I’ve said repeatedly before. Dr. Scott Dye, who I respect greatly, is also skeptical that it lies at the root of as much knee pain as the therapeutic community would have us believe.
So back to footwear: Does it matter at all?
Yes, I think it does, and maybe a lot. But my requirements would be simple: comfortable and well-cushioned shoes, such as for running. Running shoes are designed to lessen impacts on the joints, absorbing some shocks before they reach your knees.
To me, that’s a pretty good match for what I’d want.
The person who wrote the comment also asked about going barefoot around an apartment or wearing slippers. Hmm. Not sure there’s a big difference there, but thoughts from others are welcome.
Stay safe all!
When I start walking again, after a setback, my feet are often weak too, as well as the ankles. As I start to walk a little bit at a time but frequently, I need a shoe that supports my foot better, then when my knees are doing good. So like a lot of ladies, particularly nurses and those on their feet a lot, I have to start with Dansko clogs. They have a wooden base, and a pretty high arch. Starting with those helps me avoid nerve pain in the foot that comes from weak arches and general lack of foot strength. That clog also has a slight toe roll off which makes starting to walk again a little easier. If you check around you'll see there are ardent believers in dansko clogs. Only when the foot is much stronger, can I get back into well-supported sneakers.
ReplyDeleteMy knees just continue to improve. Probably back to 90%+ normal now. The PFPS symptoms (i.e. loss of tissue homeostasis symptoms as per Dr Dye's theories) of constant burning & siffness (feels like all your cartilage disappeared within a month or so) have almost completely resolved. Key remaining symptom is intermittent pain from patella chondromalacia, but I've had that for decades & it is much easier to live with.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm doing more cycling (up to 2hrs hard), and some more regular run/walk sessions. Also regular leg/hip/glute strength work. I think this has really helped my recovery, but you have to get to a certain level of improvement before you can introduce this, else you will go backwards (which is why almost all physiotherapy fails with this condition).
Which brings me to shoes. During my recovery about 5yrs ago I bought Hoka Stinsons. Despite looking like clown shoes, the extra cushioning worked for me & helped me return to a bit of running. But as with all shoe brands, I updated them to the latest Stinson model last month, and they've changed the bloody recipe! They do not feel as cushioned as the first model I bought.
Great news that you're 90%+ normal, TriAgain. I can attest to the length of your journey -- much longer than mine. Also, I looked up the Hoka Stinsons for kicks. They look super comfy!
DeleteI only discovered your blog and your book yesterday. I read it or should I say devoured it in a day. Thanks for doing all the research. I have found it very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, Rose! If you have any questions, just post them right here in the comments section. Lots of people who visit this blog have plenty of experience healing from knee pain. We do not have all the answers, but we've all been through a lot.
DeleteHello Richard and you all! So my story. Skiing accident 18 months ago. Ruptured MCL, Medial Meniscal tear and fracture. Six weeks ago, began to get abnormal chronic pain when walking. Your book has given me a lot of hope and I am now ploughing through Doug Kelsey's 'stuff'!
ReplyDeleteYour book has helped my mental state in 24 hours. I am not crying for someone to chop my knee off, do surgery and give me a pill to put me to sleep! I am taking on board this miniscule recovery programme and currently am making my plan.
So the last 6 weeks, I now have pain over the kneecap which is chronic after about 3 - 5 mins of walking. I am going for a gentle walk every day and this morning took it very slowly and carefully. However after 10 minutes, I had a choice. Either pain or put a bandage on. I put the bandage on. The bandage is a man's Large knee sleeve which takes away the pain and I can walk really well. I wanted it to be as light as possibly and to keep the knee warm
I don't believe in covering up pain so I'm wondering if this bandage, albeit large man's (I'm a small woman) is masking pain or supporting walking. I'm really concerned about reducing muscle strength by relying on a bandage however large. When I get home I take it off and put my leg up. I sometimes wear it in the evening when the chronic pain is there all the time and it gives relief.
All good wishes and take care.
Rose, does the knee sleeve have a cutout for the kneecap?
DeleteStrange that a knee sleeve alone would give such relief, but a good sign I think that the problem is not too drastic.
I also still sleep with knee sleeves as I think the warmth improves circulation & nourishment of the cartilage.
When you say pain over the kneecap, do you mean behind (i.e. under the kneecap), or just under the skin?
cheers
Hi there. The knee sleeve has no cut out. It's from Asda so just one of those plain white knee covers. Pain is under and around the kneecap, particularly at the bottom of the kneecap. But there is no burning like Richard had. If I press on the knee cap there is no pain but if I press at the bottom of it, towards the tibia, there is pain. That's where the worst pain is. Cheers.
DeleteHi all, a friend just mentioned they used a cryo cuff regularly when they had bad knees/nerve pain and still use it occasionally when they aren't feeling great. Has anyone had any experience with one of these? I am thinking of getting one but unsure whether cooling my knee would really help as in the past I feel like my knee responds better to warmth than cool. Even so, sometimes my knee is warm and it feels like they are hot so maybe getting some cool water around it would help, just like cold swimming seems to feel good (at the time)..
ReplyDeleteI have osteoarthritis of knee ( probably 3rd or even 4th stage) but i try to avoid surgery, was searching for some first account about saving knees. i found your blog just yesterday, and i am reading, cross referencing and reading again ! Thank you so much for this blog, i am sure to find some tips here.
ReplyDelete