Of course you want comfortable shoes — no one enjoys aching feet. But did you know that the wrong kind of footwear could be the source of joint pain in your knees, hips, and spine?
Move freely again with help from Tadje Orthopaedics in Meridian, Idaho. Jared Tadje, MD, and our expert team work with patients to diagnose and treat the root causes of pain, offering everything from footwear advice to advanced orthobiologics and arthroscopic surgery.
If you’re curious about the connection between what you wear on your feet and your joint pain, keep reading. In this month’s post, we discuss how foot support (or lack thereof) affects your joints and when you may need more than just new shoes.
Your shoes do more than keep your feet warm, dry, and protected; they influence how your entire body moves. When they lack adequate support, proper cushioning, or simply don’t fit well, it disrupts your foot mechanics and natural gait.
This forces your feet to overcompensate, sending stress upward to your ankles, knees, hips, and even your spine. Over time, uneven impact and ongoing strain can lead to issues like runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome) and pain in the hips, pelvis, and/or lower back.
How do you navigate the thousands of options on the market to find footwear that actually supports your body and reduces joint stress?
First, consider what you’ll be doing in these shoes, whether it’s running, walking, playing sports, or for everyday casual wear. Different activities may require more or less support and cushioning.
But certain key features are essential in any pair of shoes. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
Take the time to make sure your shoes fit properly — check that they aren’t too wide or too snug and that they allow your toes to wiggle comfortably without friction or pressure.
Your feet naturally swell throughout the day, so try on new shoes in the late afternoon or evening to ensure they fit your feet at their largest.
Look for footwear with adequate arch support that matches the curve of your foot, and a stable heel counter that securely holds your foot in place to prevent excessive side-to-side movement.
The cushioning in your shoes should absorb impact effectively without feeling overly soft or unstable. For athletic shoes, look for a balance of shock absorption and responsiveness.
Even the best, most comfortable shoes have a finite lifespan, as their supportive qualities diminish with time and use. For running shoes, aim to replace them every 300-500 miles, and for walking shoes, consider new ones every nine months or when the tread has visibly worn down.
While choosing the right shoes is certainly important, footwear alone may not be a complete fix for existing or severe joint pain. If you’ve tried more supportive shoes and still experience persistent or worsening joint pain, consult our experts at Tadje Orthopaedics.
We can diagnose the underlying cause of your discomfort and offer personalized solutions. Your treatment plan may include custom orthotics, physical therapy, orthobiologics like stem cell or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, or minimally invasive surgery, if necessary.
Is nagging knee, hip, or back pain affecting your daily life? Contact us at Tadje Orthopaedics today to schedule a consultation and receive quality care.
