PROBLEM
Knee pain can occur in different areas on and around the knee. The most common areas will be the inside, outside and below the knee cap. The biggest cause of any type of knee pain is when the knee joint doesn’t track as well as it should. The knee joint is only designed to work in a straight line, if it is forced to move from side to side there is a good chance that there will be a problem. There are a number of elements that can prevent knees from tracking in a straight line: foot position and motion (pronation/supination), muscle imbalance in the upper leg (quads and hamstrings) and the strength or alignment in the pelvic region.
Medial Knee pain (inside the knee pain)
This pain occurs when the knee tracks towards the midline of the body (inside/valgus force). This motion places too much stress on the ligament that runs through the inside of the knee causing pain. The most common reasons for this happening are due to the foot and the hip. If the foot pronates this causes the alignment of the knee to track towards the inside, placing stress on the inside of the knee. The hip area also has a big role to play in helping the knee track correctly; if there is a weakness in the Glute area it will not be strong enough to keep the knee straight. An increase in the Q angle will also force the knee towards the body’s midline.
Lateral Knee Pain (Outside of the knee pain)
This pain occurs when the knee alignment is forced towards the outside of the body (lateral/varus force). This motion can cause stress on the ligament on the outside of the knee. However the more common injury concern is friction on the outside of the joint by the Iliotibial Band. This pain can subside after the activity has finished. The primary cause of this pain is due to foot, quad imbalance and hip malfunction. If the foot is supinated or pronated there is a increase in the friction on the outside of the knee. A muscle imbalance in the quad area will also cause the knee to track laterally; if the lateral quad (vastus Literalis and ITB) is dominant the knee will be forced towards the outside. Lastly when the muscles in the hip area (Glute) are dominant then they will have a negative effect on the way the knee tracks.
CURREXSOLE SOLUTION…
CurrexSole Insoles are designed to support the foot and reduce the speed and distance that the foot changes position. With CurrexSole insoles you can limit the amount of pronation and improve the position of the foot plus reduce the stress on the knee. By improving the foot position we can also improve the rotation in the shin area, reducing stress in the knee joint and the hip area. Lastly by improving the position of the foot we can improve the muscle function and balance in the quad area, helping the knee track along its optimum line. N.B. If pain or discomfort persists, please seek medical advice.