There is a reason your Pedorthist asks if you are experiencing any pain in the hip, knee or ankle during your biomechanical evaluation – even though you may have only booked an appointment for them to assess your heel or toe pain. The reasoning behind that is that everything is connected. A lot of the pain we experience higher up in our bodies, is a result of how our foot moves (range of motion) and based on the structure of the foot (arch type). Having a low arch height or a high arch height can contribute to excessive or lack of movement in the larger joints of the lower extremity. This lack of movement can also result in a reduced ability to absorb shock. As a result, the ankle, knee and hip joints have to take on more of this added stress, resulting in pain and instability.
Conditions that result from a lower arch foot type:
- Medial ankle pain
- Medial meniscus strain
- Medial knee osteoarthritis
- Hip bursitis
- Sciatica
- IT band pain
- Shin splints
Conditions that result from a higher arch foot type:
- Lateral and anterior knee pain
- Lateral ankle instability
- Osteoarthritis in the hip and the knee
- IT band syndrome
The goal of custom-made orthotics and properly fitted orthopedic footwear, is to help better align the lower body by providing the proper amount of support under the foot. When we better align the body, it takes added stress that our joints are not meant to work under and redistributes it elsewhere. In the long-term this will help relieve pain and allow our joints to function more efficiently. Helping us to do more in our lives whether it be performing regular daily walks, taking up a new activity of interest, or even allowing us to perform our jobs without getting tired or experiencing pain.
Additional treatments might also be needed to help support these joints; these include bracing (over-the-counter or custom) or referrals to other specialists (i.e. Physiotherapists, Registered Massage Therapists, Osteopaths, etc.). We are here to help develop a treatment plan to help improve these areas of concern and to follow-up to make sure progress is moving in the right direction.
Come See Us!
If you are experiencing hip, knee and/or ankle pain it might be time to book an appointment today with a lower limb clinician at your local BioPed clinic.
