Overpronation: How It May Contribute to Knee Joint Pain - 1:15 AM, 2/9/2009

What are the Symptoms for Knee Pain?
Knee pain is a common complaint that many people have and be caused by many different factors. One of the main causes of leg and knee pain is a biomechanical imbalance known as excess pronation. This causes pain by producing an internal rotation of the lower leg and knee and can be easily diagnosed by noting a rotation of the foot originating at the ankle. A predominant sign of this is the outward curvature of the band of tissue that attaches the heel and the calf muscle known as Achilles Tendon. As this twisting becomes more and more pronounced, a person with foot over-pronation can have symptoms such as frequent ankle sprains, painful arches, lower back pain, heel spurs, shin splints, and of course knee pain. Pain in the knees can also occur from normal wear and tear to the joint, but when excess pronation is apparent, it causes a joint that should perform as a hinge only, to rotate. This joint is not created to rotate, and it is this improper motion of the knee that leads to premature wear and tear on the bone resulting in long-term damage and extreme knee pain.

Other Common Causes of Foot Overpronation

The most common causes of this foot ailment are heredity and the positioning of the feet while a child is in the mother’s uterus. It tends to worsen as one matures because the parts of the knee become extremely loose. as the foot becomes used to the flimsiness of these tissues, the inner ankle bone protrudes greatly. As the foot muscles accommodate this improper position, the person will find that they have an exceptionally bendable and flat foot. Some external signs of this condition can be abnormal wear and tear on the interior soles of shoes, very short arch height and also Morton’s toe. Morton’s toe is a condition, where the big toe is shorter than the second toe and can make the foot to roll inward.

How to Correct Knee Pain

One of the ways to help correct this foot abnormality is with the use of orthotic insoles. Orthotic shoe insoles are built to relieve excess pronation by providing support to the arch and offering increased strength to the weak ankle joints. They can be placed into many types of shoes, however one should pick a shoe that has sufficient arch support and a firm midsole as as starting point. The shoes you use with these types of inserts will need to be deep enough to fit them. In many cases, by adding this additional arch support you will find it will bring more relief to your aching knees than using a knee brace. They work on your feet in the same manner that braces work to straighten your teeth. By producing the necessary arch they drive the ankle joint back into alignment, alleviating the twisting on the knee thus bringing relief to the knee joint. Finding out the reason for your pain should be fairly easy and using orthotic arch supports to resolve the pain is a simple solution. Leading long, productive lives begins with the care of our joints. Paying attention to their needs can ensure us a comfortable and happy state of health for years to come.