Footwear Can Impact Knee Osteoarthritis

When shopping for shoes, it's not all about style -- especially if you have osteoarthritis. Your choice of footwear can affect the load or stress put on your knee joint and consequently impact knee osteoarthritis which is the most common form of osteoarthritis. More than 10 million Americans have knee osteoarthritis -- so realizing that footwear can make a difference is no small thing.

Researchers have analyzed high-heel shoes, moderate-heel shoes, arch supports, and walking barefoot. A specialized shoe (the Mobility shoe) has even been designed that mimics walking barefoot. Let's review some of the conclusions that were drawn from various footwear studies. Hopefully, from reading through the study conclusions, you will realize that "they're so cute" should not be the sole criteria for buying shoes.

Related Resources:

• Flip-flops Can Cause Joint Problems
• Guide to Foot Care and Foot Problems
• The Cause of Knee Pain - Step-by-Step
• Shoe Styles Can Impact Knee Osteoarthritis
• Proper Body Mechanics Important for People With Arthritis

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• Join Us in Our Osteoarthritis Forum / Message Board

_{Photo by Michal Koziarski (iStockphoto)}