4 things that cause knee pain while walking

Walking is a great form of exercise and an easy way to lose weight and keep your heart healthy.

However, despite the many benefits of walking, there is one part of the body that may feel very bad when walking long distances, and that is the knees.

A number of experts attributed knee pain during walking to four main reasons, namely:

1- Wearing the wrong shoes

When choosing a shoe to wear while walking, it’s not just about aesthetics but also for foot pain in mind.

“The wrong type of shoes can exacerbate pre-existing knee problems,” says Jerome Inad, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, and board-certified sports medicine physician.

For example, if you have the patellofemoral syndrome, you should wear shoes designed to put your knees in better alignment for walking. On the other hand, if you have been diagnosed with arthritis in the medial (inner) part of the knee, you should wear walking shoes, (low arch) or an accessory with a side brace should be used to position your knees in better alignment for walking.”

2-Problems with the arches of the foot

If your feet land flat on the ground while walking due to problems with the arches of the feet, you may find yourself experiencing knee pain that gets worse over time.

ACE-certified trainer Tig Mentos explained, “The arch of the foot is very important because it provides stability to the foot and the rest of the body. When the arch collapses, the foot loses this stability which puts more pressure on the knee and can also cause the knee to bend a little inward, however, It is likely to cause pain in the middle part of the knee.”

3- Not engaging the thigh and buttock muscles while walking
While walking can be a mindless activity for some, your best bet for avoiding knee pain is to be aware of where and how to walk. This involves engaging the quadriceps and buttocks muscles during the movement to avoid straining the knee.
“The glutes are a large and powerful muscle group, but if they are not engaged during lower body movements, this can lead to joint problems, such as problems with the knee,” says Mintos. Without using the glutes, the knee will gain more weight or load. with every step.”

4- Walking with pain

Many people take some pain in order to walk, until it is considered dangerous, and may cause damage to the knee.

“Pain is a warning sign that there is a problem and it should stop,” said Kent Probst, trainer, and kinesiologist.