Knee Pain

What causes it?

Knee pain is a very common complaint and has many different causes. Some of the more common diagnoses that are given include: arthritis, ligament injury or tear, cartilage (meniscus) tear, patellar tendonitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome and bursitis.

All of these conditions involve pain in one or both knees. Some are a result of direct trauma or injury, and some can be the result of long standing wear and tear. Some involve pain that is made worse by squatting, kneeling, sitting with the knees bent, and rising after long periods of sitting.

Is my knee pain related to my feet?

Feet are the foundation for every step taken, and play a key role in absorbing the shock being placed on the body every day. Problems with foot function can have repercussions that are felt all the way up the body’s lower kinetic chain which include the knees, hips and low back.

Excessive pronation (or flattening of the arches) is the biomechanical problem most often cited as being associated with lower limb pain or injury. When the arches raise and lower (which is a normal part of walking) the bones of the leg and thigh rotate inwards and outwards. When there is foot dysfunction, such as pronation or flattening of the arches, this rotation of the leg bones can become excessive – leading to increased stress on the knees, pelvis, and low back. If knee pain is notably worse in different shoes, or when walking in bare feet creates knee pain. This may be an indication that the feet are contributing to the knee pain.

How is it treated?

Treatment for knee pain is as varied as the number of causes. It is very important that the cause of your symptoms is understood before undergoing treatment for knee pain. Here are some of the more common treatments:

Anti-Inflammatory Agents:

These may include ice and oral anti-inflammatory medications. These may provide some temporary relief from the pain of inflammation, but are usually not helpful in addressing the underlying cause of the condition. Resting your knees may also be helpful in reducing inflammation.

Exercises and Stretches:

Many of the muscles in the thigh and calf interact at the knee joint. Keeping these muscles and tendons loose and mobile can decrease stresses around the knee. Increasing the strength of muscles that have be¬come weak can sometimes play a role in recovery. Regardless of the type of treatment being received, a good stretching and strengthening protocol can help get better results.

Injections:

Depending on the cause of knee pain, this intervention may be considered. Cortisone is a very powerful medication used to decrease inflammation in the knee joint. Talk to a doctor about the risks and benefits of this treatment.

Surgery:

In cases of severe injury or in cases that do not respond to conservative measures, a doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery can often repair torn or damaged tissues. As with other treatments, the reason why the tissues were damaged in the first place should be considered. If considering surgery, talk to more than one doctor carefully about the benefits and risks.

Custom Foot Orthotics:

Custom made CBAS foot orthotics can address knee pain that is, at least partially, caused by poor biomechanical problems of the feet, specifically excessive pronation or flattening of the arches.

CBAS unlike typical custom orthotics, are designed to help restore proper arch height and function of an individual foot, determined by a unique way of capturing an impression of the arch with the foot arranged in an optimal position, then completely supporting it. Only allowing the arch to flex accurately at a calibrated rate. The CBAS orthotic is the only calibrated custom orthotic that is designed with an individual’s body weight, foot flexibility, and activity level in mind, creating true biomechanical shock absorption. This restoration of proper foot function takes the abnormal joint positions and stresses off of the knee minimizing harmful compressive forces that cause knee injury therefore allowing the affected tissues to heal and normal joint function to be restored. In this way the CBAS custom orthotics not only help with the body’s posture of the lower kinetic chain, but it may provide the difference for long-term success in the management of knee pain.

This page provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Please talk to your health care provider to address your individual situation.