Shoes for Knee Pain
Experts say about 20% of women will experience knee pain at some point. The causes can range from sore or torn ligaments, overusing your knees, arthritis or issues with your feet that affect how you walk. There are two approaches to which shoes may work best for knee pain. But experts agree you should consider what is most comfortable for your knees and your feet above any other factor in footwear.
About Our Knees
Your knee is the largest and strongest joint in your entire body. That’s according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons information website orthoinfo.org. A health knee has four things, bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. This is where our thigh bone (femur) our shinbone (tibia) and the kneecap meet up.
The knee joint has ligaments strapping inside and outside the joint (collateral) and crossing within the joint (your cruciate ligaments). “The four main ligaments in the knee attach to the bones and act like strong ropes to hold the bones together.” Plus there’s the meniscus that provides a padded smooth spot between the bones, sort of a shock absorber as we move.
When it comes to shoes that can help reduce or prevent pain in your knees, you might need to try two approaches and see which works for you, buying either a motion control supportive shoe with a rocker sole or go for a soft, flexible flatter shoe that cushions the knee joint.
When we asked the question on Facebook, readers provided shoes on both sides of the spectrum for knee pain.
Shoe suggestions
Here are few shoes for knee pain as suggested by our readers. We’ve included links to help you check them out:
Orthofeet sandals and sneakers: Featuring premium orthotic insoles for support, cushioned outsoles to absorb shock and a firm heel counter for stability, Orthofeet footwear is a favorite among women with knee pain. Our favorite is the Orthoheel Paloma sandal with its simple good looks and excellent support.
Altra Via Olympus: Happy Zappos customer Megan says this about her new Altras:
“From the moment I put them on I felt like I was walking on clouds. I suffer from knee and hip pain and these shoes provide the support and cushion I need to move comfortably and freely. I absolutely love the anatomical toe box. My toes have the space to move and spread out while my foot feels secure. I was nervous about the height, but they’re actually really cute in person and don’t look like you’re walking with platforms.“
Find the Altra Via Olympus in sizes 6-12 for $169.95 from Zappos, AltraRunning.com and Amazon.
Oofos OOmg Low Sport: American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Approved, the Oofos OOmg Sport shoe brings relief to aching joints in the feet and knees–and even helps with back pain. Oofos customer Shannon loves her new Oofos OOmg sports:
I can honestly say I didn’t know what to expect. I have been working on concrete for over 20 years and have tried literally every kind of shoe out there to help with my feet pain. I have noticed a tremendous difference since I started wearing these 2 weeks ago. Not only do my feet feel better, but my knee pain and back pain have almost gone away.
Find the Oofos OOmg sport shoe in sizes 5-11 for $139.95 from Oofos.com and Zappos.
Motion stabilizing shoes and rocker soles
As we talk about shoes let’s talk for a minute about a common cause of knee issues – arthritis. Experts say there are three types of arthritis that can cause knee pain- osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. One reader wrote, “I suffer from OA of the knee and have found that rocker sole shoes cut my pain in half and increase my mobility greatly.” Experts at Harvard explain that osteoarthritis may be what you think of as wear and tear on the join. “Osteoarthritis of the knee will affect at least half of people in their lifetime, and is the main reason more than 700,000 people need knee replacements each year in the US.”
Rocker sole shoes we recommend:
Have you turned your nose up at Skechers in the past? While Hoka, On, and Altra bask in the glory of 5 star reviews for knee pain relief, Skechers is sneaking up on them with this new model. The Skechers Max Cushioning Elite not only features dense cushioning and moderate arch support, but the Natural Rocker Technology propels the foot through the stride taking pressure off forefoot, heel and knees. Find the Max Cushioning Elite in sizes 5-11, medium and wide widths for $100 from Skechers.com, Zappos and Amazon.
Many models of Alegria shoes feature rocker soles; our favorite is the Alegria Debra. A slip-resistant rocker sole helps to relieve load on the knees. A removable cork/latex/memory foam footbed provides superior arch support and a generous toe box accommodates bunions and hammertoes. Find the Alegria Debra in euro sizes 35-42 (5.5-11.5) for $130 from AlegriaShoeShop.com.
Clarks Wave collection: Gently curved Wavewalk soles guide your foot through the stride taking pressure off foot and knee joints. Available in both slip-on and lace-up in sizes 6-12, medium and wide widths for $140 from ClarksUsa.com, Nordstrom and The Walking Company.
MBT Malia walking sandal: If you know anything about MBT, you know they’re serious about their rocker sole technology. Happy MBT customer Cynthia says this about her Malia sandals:
I love these sandals, they are true to size, the fit is perfect and the rocker is just what I need to be stylish and when walking I feel no pain in my feet, knees, nor my back.
Find the MBT Malia in euro sizes 37-43 (6-11) for $219.95 from MBT.
Join us over at the BarkingDogShoes.com Facebook page for crowdsourced recommendations on shoes for knee pain.
