What Age-Related Issues Can PRP Treat?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a revolutionary treatment for many issues, including age-related joint pain and injuries. Read on to learn what other issues PRP can treat as you age.
Signs Your Shoes Are Threatening Your Knee Health
Your legs are vital to your body, allowing you to move around and enjoy activities like running and walking. Your knee joints, feet, and ankles are the brunt of your daily activities.
One of the best things you can do for your legs and knees is to wear properly fitting shoes. Your shoes are crucial in preventing issues with your knees later on.
The team at Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine understands the importance of your knee health. If you’re dealing with pain or discomfort in your knees, our three orthopedic surgeons get to the bottom of the problem for quick relief.
Understanding your knees
Your knee joints are hinge joints that allow you to move, walk, and run. Your shinbone (tibia) and your thigh bone (femur) come together and meet at your kneecap (patella).
Cartilage covers the end of your bones, which helps absorb stress and shocks in your joint. Other various tendons, ligaments, and muscles hold your knee joint together.
Although your knee joint is rigid, it's prone to injuries and wear-and-tear from aging. Arthritis is a common ailment that often happens as you get older. However, other issues affect your knees as well, including:
- Torn cartilage
- Tendonitis
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures
Your knees take a lot of stress throughout your life, which leads to erosion of the protective cartilage and injuries. Believe it or not, shoes play a significant role in the health of your knees.
Shoes that cause knee problems
If you’re dealing with knee pain, your shoes are crucial to preventing further issues. Your shoe choices directly impact your knee health, and certain ones threaten your knee joints, including:
High heels
High heels are detrimental to your knee health, especially if you’re prone to osteoarthritis. Any heel increases the stress and load placed on your knee joint.
The excess stress may cause pain, swelling, or tenderness on or around your knee. Even when you only wear heels occasionally, it still puts your knee joint at risk for injury.
Poor arch support
Supporting your feet is the best way to support your knees as well. Shoes that lack arch support put unnecessary strain on your knee joints, leading to pain and arthritis.
However, more arch support is needed. It prevents you from pronating your feet, which is essential when walking or running.
Old, worn shoes
Shoes are just like your clothes — you shouldn’t wear them forever. If you feel your shoes no longer provide support, it’s time to invest in new ones.
Old and worn shoes don’t give you the support your knees need to avoid conditions like osteoarthritis.
Shoes that don’t fit right also risk your knee health. You must get your shoes fitted to your specific foot structure to avoid knee issues.
What to look for in your shoes
If you’re suffering from joint pain in your knees, take the time to examine your shoes. Our team guides you toward the correct type of shoes that help cushion your knee joints. Aspects you should look for in your shoes include the following:
Heel height
When choosing a shoe, pick one that doesn’t have much of a heel. The height from the front of your shoe to the heel should be a very mild grade to keep your knees healthy.
Flexibility
Shoes that you wear regularly should be flexible. When shoe shopping, try to bend your shoes to check how flexible they are. Rigid shoes restrict your foot movement, which puts extra pressure on your joints.
Foot comfort
Comfort is a massive factor in shoe choice. You spend much of your time in shoes, so they should be comfortable. Taking care of your feet means also taking care of your knees.
Even with the best shoes, you may still have knee trouble. Our team evaluates your symptoms and knee joints to determine the best route of treatment for your specific problem.
If you’re tired of dealing with knee pain, call us at one of our three locations in McKinney, Prosper, and Sherman, Texas, to schedule a consultation. You may also request an appointment on the website.
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