Are Running Shoes Bad for Your Knees?
Let’s start off with the answer to that question – it is both a small “Yes” and a big “No”. Read on t0 learn more. . . .
Recently there was a story written about a research study done that showed that running shoes increase the torque on your knee joints even more than high heels do – wow!
The article was written by Rachel Rettner, with LiveScience.com, and was a good article – www.livescience.com/health/running-shoes-joint-strain-injury-100112.html. The article it references is:
The effect of running shoes on lower extremity joint torques. Kerrigan DC, Franz JR, Keenan GS, Dicharry J, Della Croce U, Wilder RP. PM R. 2009 Dec;1(12):1058-63.
In its conclusion, the article states:
“The findings at the knee suggest relatively greater pressures at anatomical sites that are typically more prone to knee osteoarthritis, the medial and patellofemoral compartments. It is important to note the limitations of these findings and of current 3-dimensional gait analysis in general, that only resultant joint torques were assessed. It is unknown to what extent actual joint contact forces could be affected by compliance that a shoe might provide, a potentially valuable design characteristic that may offset the observed increases in joint torques.”
The study had 37 women and 31 men who ran at least 15 miles/ week, recreationally. The comparison was of barefoot running versus running with a typical modern running shoe and measured the torque at the knee, hip and ankle joints. It also measured the amount of bodyweight force created, using a foreplate under the treadmill (basically a scale under the treadmill).
The author, Rettner, states: “The researchers found an increase in the torque for the knees, hips and ankles when the participants were wearing running shoes as compared with when they were running barefoot.”
Specifically, they saw a 38 percent increase in torque in areas of the knee where osteoarthritis develops. This was greater than what is created while wearing high heeled shoes, which showed a 20-26 percent increase.
Even though the increased force can lead to damage in the joint, it is not recommended that you stop wearing your running shoes. Today’s running shoes absorb shock very well from the hard running surfaces that people run on today and that is a significant issue. They also support the foot and help to prevent things like shin splints.
A key question at this point, obviously, is whether running and running shoes are “good” for you or not. There are significant benefits from running, specifically – cardiovascular, weight, emotion, balance, bone strength, and on and on. It should be recognized that there is increased stress on your joints with running – and now apparently specifically from running shoes and I think it is interesting that the higher heel of a running shoe impacts your joints negatively. Having said this, you shouldn’t stop running and, as the article says, you shouldn’t ditch those shoes – like most things in life, they some positive effects as well as some potential negatives. . . .