Posted on 03/26/2010 9:42:33 PM PDT by fightinJAG
Flip-flops and sneakers with flexible soles are easier on the knees than clogs or even special walking shoes, a study by Rush University Medical Center has found. And that's important, because loading on the knee joints is a key factor in the development of osteoarthritis.
The study has been published online in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.
"Traditionally, footwear has been engineered to provide maximum support and comfort for the foot, with little attention paid to the biomechanical effects on the rest of the leg," said Dr. Najia Shakoor, a rheumatologist at Rush and the primary author of the study. "But the shoes we wear have a substantial impact on the load on the knee joints, particularly when we walk."
"Our study demonstrated that flat, flexible footwear significantly reduces the load on the knee joints compared with supportive, stable shoes with less flexible soles."
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
bump
FYI !!
Hey Ceej! I found something uglier than your Herman Munsters! No offense, fightinJAG.
Thanks. About ten years extensions followed by squats (when able) for a few years seems to have fixed the miniscis in each knee to some extent for me, for the time being (in my fifties). Granted, the ligaments don’t heal, so one must be careful about hyper-extending. During those first ten years or so, I was quite crippled about half of the time. Surgeons said with smiles that in my MOS, they were keeping me. ...said that I was experienced and only needed to be able to crawl and squirm real fast. ;-)
Thank you.
I don’t know about knees, but higher heels on work boots definitely takes a toll on your lower back, hip joint, and buttock muscles.
I got a pair of Vibram Five Fingers KSO three weeks ago. BEST SHOES I’VE EVER WORN! I hike in the mountains two hours daily, swim in them, walk around the house, walk on pavement, rocks, sand, you name it! My hammertoe problems in both feet have diminished remarkably. I’m even running!
I can’t recommend them enough. Everyone should wear them. Of course, they’re pretty dang ugly. :)
What do you mean “the ligaments don’t heal”? I managed to strain every ligament in both legs 7 weeks ago (carrying 50 lbs. of wood up a flight of stairs repeatedly) and am just now having noticeably less pain. My knees were really bad with no previous problems prior to this. What you said concerns me so please explain - thanks. Family doc was mostly unconcerned about my injuries so I didn’t think it would be anything long lasting. Ghastly experience so I know what you must have felt. By the way Northwestern Univ. researchers recently made a break through in cartilage that sounds very promising for knee joints. (http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2010/02/cartilage.html)
Torn ligaments won’t heal, because they’re separated. ...no way to stress them into re-fusing. Strained ones probably would, though. I’m not a doctor, BTW. ...just happy that bone is no longer riding on bone here, and that no large quantities of edema and blood are building up in the knees. I also feel for those who have a torn miniscus or two and still have to do heavy lifting all day for pay. Hobbling and hopping around with that cartilage separated is extremely painful and tends to send one from job to job. And they won’t heal, until they can build up slowly from extensions and short, careful walks to longer walks and squats. While cleaning out that cartilage with complete movements of knees, high-calcium diet might also help. ...not sure. Maybe an orthopedic surgeon will come along to educate us.
Thanks. Check out that article about cartilage. It’s administered via an injection. All natural nutrients, etc. in a gel form function as a catalyst to get your own body to produce cartilage within a month. Cheap, easy, non-toxic - could be a very major alternative to knee replacements.
A little over 20 years ago and again soon after that, I was carrying heavy loads (LBE, ruck, weapon, etc.) and tried to change directions too quickly—once in initial training and the next time in an urban warfare exercise. ...had to be carried off each time. ...military offered each time to do cartilage removal surgery that had a 50/50 chance of making the problems worse, according to the surgeons (maybe more bone-to-bone contact), or for me to simply continue training as best I could. I chose the latter.
Later, an employer insisted that I see a vocational rehab counselor. ...counselor said that I would go on disability to some extent and be paid to attend a school for secretaries (business school). I declined and continued trying to work as best I could, until it became apparent that bosses don’t want enlisted, combat-oriented prior servicemen in admin. office jobs (preferences for women, effeminate men, people from south of the border, and the like).
I do cheap, hard manual labor at high elevations, when such jobs are available (not often). ...and learn a little Spanish and Patois from time to time, when I’m not doing the mandatory, daily wait in the “temp” office without pay. ...and work for friends, and learn to live on very little, Jefe (means boss).
But I’ll get along fine. I was a combat engineer.
...combat type—not construction.
Thanks for the link. I’ll have a look at it in a bit (after finishing a roof framing plan...little informal learning exercise).
I endured the pain of bone on bone for over 10 years because there were too many horror stories out there about knee replacements.
I found a group with a superb track record and proceeded.
It’s over a year now and I DO have new knees.
I would recommend it to anyone willing to work on it. It is a lot of work - but what are the results? Good rehab can bring you back.
The best rehab available is definitely recommended.
Do your research before picking.
I’d definitely do it again.
You’re welcome. Matt Fury has some good exercise routines for knees and legs - includes the deep knee bends you mentioned as well as other strengthening exercises. Hope you will get lucky with the new cartilage injections when they are available provided that monster in the white house doesn’t screw it up.
I am getting a pair!
I run barefoot all day (work at home/active job) but cant handle going outside without shoes/slip ons.
One question I have feet like a duck. A 36 super wide.
Hence been a Birkenstock shoe person for most my life.
Even hiking boots cants find wide enough due to my short wide feet.
And do they cause any blistering between the toes from rubbing?
Does the foot sweat?
Being an active fast pace worker on the job I need traction. Do they provide Traction.
Wow how exciting.
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been dealing with lousy knees for sometime now.
Thanks for the info on the Northwestern Univ. study on cartilage regrowth.
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