At Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, our experienced, board-certified podiatrists are recognized as the leading experts in lower extremity care in Clinton Township, Michigan. Many patients come to us thinking that they’ll have to go through separate treatment for their knee pain and foot pain.
But, in many cases, it’s all connected. Read on to learn about this link and find out how we can help with both types of pain.
Your feet are your foundation. They’re first to hit the ground, so your feet absorb a lot of stress and control how that force travels upward. This means that if your foot mechanics or weight distribution are off, it can lead to excessive stress on your knees. Some examples are:
Flat feet can affect the way your feet move, often causing the foot to roll inward (overpronation). When the feet turn in, the lower leg rotates too. This increases stress along the inner knee and can trigger knee pain.
While flat feet involve too much inward motion, high arches cause the opposite problem. When you have high arches, you have less natural shock absorption. This means that more impact moves up the leg than normal as you take each step. This repetitive force may stress the knee joint and its supportive tissues, causing inflammation and pain.
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction occurs when the tendon that supports the arch weakens over time. As the arch slowly collapses, foot alignment shifts. This affects how your knee tracks during movement, which is why many people with the condition have knee pain that steadily worsens in tandem with foot alignment shifts.
Plantar fasciitis, which causes persistent heel pain, can affect gait. To avoid pain, many people may shift their weight off their heels or take shorter steps. These altered gait patterns can trigger secondary knee pain if the problem isn’t treated.
Bunions and other foot deformities, such as hammertoe, can subtly change how the body moves. These conditions alter weight distribution and affect push-off mechanics when you walk. Although the shifts may seem minor, they can create long-term stress patterns that gradually strain your knee over time.
Our experienced podiatrists at Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute take a comprehensive approach, looking beyond the site of pain. When leg or knee discomfort is caused by foot or ankle dysfunction, we focus on correcting the root problem for lasting relief.
Our toolbox includes everything from conservative care to advanced surgery. Common approaches include:
When the root cause of your foot and knee pain is a structural problem within the foot, conservative care might not be enough. If you need surgery, we’re here to support you.
Our renowned foot and ankle surgeons have completed the highest level of surgical training available in the field, with expertise in advanced minimally invasive techniques such as arthroscopic and endoscopic surgery.
We hope this blog helps set your mind at ease about foot and knee pain. These problems are easily treatable with the right approach, and we’re here to help in our state-of-the-art practice at Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute. Call our office at 586-999-9953 or schedule your appointment online.
