How's your knees?

[Lancstree]

I've had serious pain in my knees when hill walking and running. Went to the docs and he looked at my legs and dismissed them as ok. Went to physio recently about my thumb and mentioned my knee pain so she watched me walk up and down and noticed that my left knee has a wobble when weight is applied and I was walking abnormally wide footed (i.e. John wayne). She then looked at my feet when I was standing and noticed my left foot was flat (which I've never noticed) but my right foot was less flat. Consequently my right leg is stronger that my left.

I told her that I wear spikes at work and she thinks my wider stance when walking might be to do with that. I'm being referred to a foot specialist and doing exercises to strengthen my legs. the moral of this story is that I've found out late in life that I'm flat footed so I'd advise anybody with similar trouble to see a physiotherapist now so that steps can be taken to minimise pain later in life. Also do we know what harmful effects spikes may have?

]

[skyhuck]

You can check if your flat footed by wetting the soul of your foot and standing on a flat dry surface, a flag or the like, only your heal, a bit down the side, the ball and toes should make a print.

 

Hope you get sorted mate.

[Lancstree]

It'll take time but I'm determined enough to improve them. Its not giving me much pain now but I've had a taste of what could come in the future should I do nothing. Cheers mate

[Lancstree]

Update. Been to see a podiatrist for a biomechanical assessment on my feet today. The guy was great and he explained everything in great detail about the nature of his work and about feet in general. I've been given some corrective insoles that raise my arch in a certain area by 5mm and I can expect to wear smaller shoes because the arch makes the footprint smaller.

 

I asked if he'd come across arborists with knee complaints and he said no but there are lots of people who spend time standing on ladders with foot and knee problems. He saw the similarity of a ladder rung and the spike support.

[Mesterh]

How does having flat feet give knee or back problems?

 

 

Btw its not a sarcastic comment or anything just interested

[John Hancock]

……mine are buggered! They ‘click’ constantly when walking up hills or stairs, not much pain but they don’t sound right!

 

I’ve been cycling regularly since I was a teenager so I guess they’re worn out….

[Lancstree]

This is about the best interpretation I can give from all the technical stuff I was told. There is a groove inside the knee somewhere that lets something run through it when you walk. When you are flat footed the ankle rotates sideways too much, thus pulling on your tendons in a way that it no longer runs in that groove, giving rise to pain. My insoles should help to re-align the workings of my foot and leg and send things back into that groove where they should be. Some people can get discomfort and pain in the hips and back due to the malformation of the foot. The guy is in a really senior position in the department and normally wouldn't deal with patients such as myself as he gets paid well enough to deal with even more specialist foot problems. I consider myself lucky to have got such an appointment

[Mesterh]

This is about the best interpretation I can give from all the technical stuff I was told. There is a groove inside the knee somewhere that lets something run through it when you walk. When you are flat footed the ankle rotates sideways too much, thus pulling on your tendons in a way that it no longer runs in that groove, giving rise to pain. My insoles should help to re-align the workings of my foot and leg and send things back into that groove where they should be. Some people can get discomfort and pain in the hips and back due to the malformation of the foot. The guy is in a really senior position in the department and normally wouldn't deal with patients such as myself as he gets paid well enough to deal with even more specialist foot problems. I consider myself lucky to have got such an appointment

 

 

Sounds like you are seeing the right man thats for sure:001_smile: and thanks for the info

 

I think that I'm flat footed, will have to check it out later after a shower me thinks

Have always had a lower back problem that comes and goes(on right side) and a dodgy knee from a dirt bike accident 16+ years ago.

 

Will have to look into it more I suppose

[Lancstree]

It'll be better for you in the long run. I'm pleasantly surprised with this new health centre we have because I've not had to wait very long and the people seem to listen unlike GP's

[Dean Lofthouse]

The guy is in a really senior position in the department and normally wouldn't deal with patients such as myself

 

No Sean, it's the men in white coats that should be dealing with you mate