Unfortunately, knee pain is fairly common. It refers to the experience of pain between the knee cap (patella) and the underlying thigh bone (femur). Many people describe a grinding or crunching sensation when experiencing knee pain. Pain is often worse when getting up from a chair, getting into or out of the car, or when walking up stairs. 

If you are experiencing knee pain and feel you may benefit from an assessment or would like some help with choosing orthotics, please contact the team at The Foot Clinic. There are a variety of conditions that may benefit from the use of orthotics, so don’t suffer in silence any longer.

What Causes Knee Pain?  

Knee pain can have a variety of causes, including a sports injury or trauma (such as being involved in an accident). In most cases, however, it’s caused by everyday wear and tear (from ageing and years of strenuous activity, such as rugby, running, cycling, and physical labour).

Incorrect gait (or foot biometrics, if you want to get technical) can also be a contributing factor. The position of our feet and ankles has a knock-on effect on our legs, knees, hips, and lower back. A condition called ‘excess pronation’, for example (which is when the foot and ankles roll inwards, collapsing the arches during walking and running), may also place unwanted stress on the knee joint.

How Can Orthotics Help Knee Pain? 

Most podiatrists will use orthotics in conjunction with other forms of therapy for knee pain, such as exercises and stretches.

Orthotics are often also a relatively inexpensive way to address overpronation, as they aim to realign the feet and ankles, reducing internal leg rotation and unnecessary stress on the knee joint.

It's important to understand that orthotics can neither reverse pre-existing knee conditions nor deter their future occurrence. What they aim to do is provide some much-needed relief from the pain of existing conditions.

In fact, most professional athletes use orthotics to ensure proper alignment of their feet, legs and knees!

Can I Use Pre-Made Orthotics? 

Yes, there is nothing wrong with using pre-made orthotics if this is what your podiatrist recommends.

To fit them, you will be asked to sit on a chair with bare feet. A custom insole will be aligned along the bottom of your foot, and you will then be asked to press your foot onto a stretchy surface (all while your foot, ankle, and leg are being held at the proper angle). This leaves us with an impression of the insole of your healthy foot position. An ultraviolet light is used to harden the insole, and it’s ready to go.

The process is repeated on your other foot.

What if Custom Orthotics are Recommended? 

If your podiatrist has recommended custom orthotics, they will use 3D scanning technology to map the unique contours of your foot. This, along with information gleaned from your biomechanical assessment, will be sent to a custom orthotics manufacturer right here in Perth, where your prescription will be created. The process usually takes around two weeks.

It’s a good idea to bring along a couple of pairs of shoes that you wear most frequently, as your podiatrist will be able to ensure that the orthotics fit well. It generally takes a few days to get used to wearing them, but once you do, your knee pain should begin to improve.

Ensure That You Use Orthotics Correctly 

It’s important that you’re using your orthotics correctly to ensure that you get maximum benefit from them. Ensure that you wear shoes, for example, that provide enough arch support. Your podiatrist will provide you with instructions on how to correctly use your orthotics.

Experiencing Knee Pain? Contact The Foot Clinic! 

Knee pain is not something that you should just learn to live with. Book an assessment with one of The Foot Clinic's podiatrists today. Allow us to delve into the root of your discomfort, setting you back on the path of comfortably resuming your walks. We work extensively with orthotics in an effort to improve a wide range of foot, leg and knee-related conditions - if this is something we believe will improve your pain, we can arrange orthotics to suit.

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