Shoes
The common shoe offender to knee health is, of course, high heels. Their negative impact is compound. First, they position the foot so that its usefulness as a shock absorber is greatly diminished. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the shoes themselves are often thin-soled and unpadded, offering no cushion between the foot and the pavement. Second, they create stress for the knee by causing prolonged muscle contraction and fatigue. Third, over the long haul, constant wearing of high heels can create a permanent tightening and shortening of the Achilles tendons, so that any shoes other than high heels become difficult and painful to wear.
Another source of problems is worn-out or improperly fitted athletic shoes. Designed to compensate for the impact caused by running, jogging, or jumping, shoes that become worn down create problems in two ways. First, a reduction in the cushion increases the impact on the knees. Second, soles worn down on their sides, heel, or toe may magnify the slight imperfection in gait that caused uneven wear in the first place. A shoe that fits poorly may cause poor toe-off (the beginning of a step) or excess muscle strain.
The common shoe offender to knee health is, of course, high heels. Their negative impact is compound. First, they position the foot so that its usefulness as a shock absorber is greatly diminished. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the shoes themselves are often thin-soled and unpadded, offering no cushion between the foot and the pavement. Second, they create stress for the knee by causing prolonged muscle contraction and fatigue. Third, over the long haul, constant wearing of high heels can create a permanent tightening and shortening of the Achilles tendons, so that any shoes other than high heels become difficult and painful to wear.
Another source of problems is worn-out or improperly fitted athletic shoes. Designed to compensate for the impact caused by running, jogging, or jumping, shoes that become worn down create problems in two ways. First, a reduction in the cushion increases the impact on the knees. Second, soles worn down on their sides, heel, or toe may magnify the slight imperfection in gait that caused uneven wear in the first place. A shoe that fits poorly may cause poor toe-off (the beginning of a step) or excess muscle strain.
No comments:
Post a Comment