The Wrong Running Shoes Can Weaken Your Joints

There’s no doubt about it—running or jogging is a great way to stay in shape and live a healthier overall lifestyle. Unfortunately, wearing the wrong shoes or practicing bad form while running can have a negative impact on several areas of the body. Continue reading to learn more about running shoes’ effects on joint health in Napa County, CA.

Common areas of pain

Every runner is unique, and so is the pain they experience due to their shoes or their running form. These are a few of the most common areas of pain for runners:

• Hip: The bursa is a small sac of fluid that lubricates the muscles and tendons around the hip joint. When the bursa gets inflamed, in a condition known as bursitis, runners can be sidelined for a while until it’s corrected.
• Knee: Patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy are two of the most common types of knee injuries. Patellofemoral pain is also known as “runner’s knee” and is caused by repetitive contact between the patella and femur. Patellar tendinopathy is an inflammation of the tendon that runs from the kneecap to the top of the tibia.
• Ankle: Achilles tendinopathy is one of the most common forms of ankle pain, and it occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed. Wearing the wrong shoes can also cause an ankle sprain, when the ligaments and ankle joint become damaged.
• Big toe: Running shoes’ effects on joint health in Napa County, CA can be felt all the way down at the bottom of your toe. When wearing the wrong shoes, the big toe joint can come out of place and swell up. A bony protrusion known as a bunion will form, and it can be incredibly painful.

Ways to reduce pain

Reducing running pain is easier than you might think. In fact, it often doesn’t require invasive surgery or other intense medical procedures. Taking the following actions can help reduce or eliminate your pain:

• Switch your shoes: It’s important that you replace old shoes as soon as they wear down. But don’t just buy whatever pair is cheapest—talk to a professional about choosing the right running shoes in Napa County, CA that will work for your foot shape, body size and running style.
• See a specialist: Switching to a new pair of shoes should help with some of your pain, but it probably won’t take care of it all. If you’re still hurting, or if the pain has moved to different areas, talk to a physical therapist. A licensed physical therapist can diagnose the problem and develop a course of correction.

Visit Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy!

If you need help choosing the right running shoes in Napa County, CA, come to Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy. On top of providing physical therapy and rehabilitation services, we carry a variety of products that can help reduce pain and improve your overall wellbeing. Stop by today to see how our licensed physical therapists can help you eliminate pain!

Categorised in: Joint Pain

This post was written by Writer