Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Getting Back on Track: Part Two

This is a recent picture of my young niece showing her inherited lax, hyper- extending knees. My dad and brother, (her father) have them, as do I and several other members of the family. My knees and elbows used to hyperextend a full 20 degrees and my anatomy professor would speculate on the shape of the end of my humerus. We chuckle about the classic familial stance but it is obvious that the lower leg and patella are well out of alignment with the femur.

There are several risk factors for osteoarthritis of the knee. I have seen a number of plumbers and construction workers, particularly those who use jack hammers, with severe, premature joint damage. Years of walking on poorly aligned joints, whether from joint laxity, flat feet, limb shortening or scoliosis also take a toll. Some people have a genetic predisposition to cartilage defects. Osteochondritis dissecans affects young joints as well as old. My surgeon has suggested I may have this condition. This summary of possible causes of osteoarthritis was copied from the website of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. I am adding it as web links have a tendency to go dead quickly.

Heredity.
Some people have an inherited defect in one of the genes responsible for making cartilage. This causes defective cartilage, which leads to more rapid deterioration of joints. People born with joint abnormalities are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, and those born with an abnormality of the spine (such as scoliosis or curvature of the spine) are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the spine.

Obesity.
Obesity increases the risk for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. Maintaining ideal weight or losing excess weight may help prevent osteoarthritis of the knee and hip or decrease the rate of progression once osteoarthritis is established.

Injury. Injuries contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. For example, athletes who have knee-related injuries may be at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. In addition, people who have had a severe back injury may be predisposed to develop osteoarthritis of the spine. People who have had a broken bone near a joint are prone to develop osteoarthritis in that joint.

Joint Overuse. Overuse of certain joints increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. For example, people in jobs requiring repeated bending of the knee are at increased risk for developing osteoarthritis of the knee.

Many people have at least one of these risk factors and recognizing them is the first step in taking possible preventive or corrective action. I am seeing Lynn, an excellent physiotherapist who is supervising my rehab program. It is impossible to be truly objective with yourself and it is also hard to push through pain without encouragement. She noted that I was rolling outwards on my feet with each step as I compensated for muscle weakness around the knee. My Xrays show more lateral than medial narrowing of the joint space of my knee.

I took a look at my winter hiking boots which I have worn for several seasons now. The lateral wear on this right boot is very noticeable but I had not paid any attention to it. While I had little pain until recently, I was losing movement and strength in the knee for some time. Our bodies are adept at finding ways to compensate for imbalances. Many people, especially women, have a tendency to flat feet and valgus or "knock knees". Their heels tend to wear opposite to mine and they sustain damage to the medial compartment of their knee. This is so common that knee hemiarthroplasties (Oxford replacements) are being done to replace only the medial half the knee joint.

Last week I purchased a new pair of Keen shoes for winter. Beth from Maine* had recommended their sandals and I bought a pair in June, wearing them every day until the snow came. When I switched to other shoes, my knees became more painful. The Becka calls my new Keens "Frankenstein shoes" and tells me I could go Goth with them, but they feel heavenly on my feet. Women and shoes are often in conflict. I have purchased shoes that hurt because they were attractive and on sale. High heels displace weight to the front of the knee joint and this can contribute to painful patello-femoral arthritis over time. The Keens have a generous toe box. Most women squeeze their feet into narrow toed shoes and are four times more likely than men to develop foot deformities. Walking with bare feet causes the least strain on the knee joint as the many small joints in the foot absorb the forces of weight bearing well. (reference) Bare feet are not an option for most of us so we cram our feet into rigid, often ill-fitting shoes and walk on hard surfaces for much of the day.

I continue to walk on the track with my poles and completed 2-1/2 km yesterday. I am not pushing for distance but am paying attention to how I am walking as I try to correct my gait pattern. I will get an orthotic assessment as part of my action plan to protect my knees.
In my next instalment I will review the exercises which have been most helpful for me.

*Here and here are links to Beth's posts about Keen Shoes. I am not endorsing them exclusively as there are other shoes available that provide excellent support. But these are the most comfortable shoes I have worn.

Getting Back on Track: Part One

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:32 pm GMT-5

    So my knees (and elbows) bending back like would be hereditary then? Admittedly I own a couple pairs of +4 inch heels but I find lately I am most comfortable in sneakers. Heels and chasing babies don't mix!

    Your barefoot line reminds me of a little old grandmother who walked up to me in the store the other day to inform me that I had to make my son where shoes or his feet would be deformed... (A lot of random people see fit to give me random advice in public, I don't get why!)

    I am curious if you have heard anything about negative heel shoes? (My friend recently got a pair and declares them wonderful.)

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  2. Jaspenelle- So you inherited those joints too. Get rid of those 4 inch heels unless you are just going to be sitting for a picture. Let Damian go barefoot. Your dad and I seldom wore shoes when we were in Africa. I used to carry my school shoes in my satchel and put them on when I arrived. I still prefer bare foot walking. Earth shoes were the negative heel shoes of my generation. The trouble is, many of us cannot tolerate that stretch on the Achilles tendon.

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  3. I've often thought that the way a person's shoes wear down says so much about them, and what ails them. The same can be said for one's gate. Your post reminds me that their is just as much a genetic element in it as their is a reflection of ones personality. Side note: I have an orthopedic shoe ... and it was a watershed moment in my life when I got it: it changed the way I move, or could move, and my whole outlook, ... plus my gate!

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  4. What an important post. I've concluded as my feet and knees age that we don't know what we're losing 'til it's gone. I have started looking at the way women's shoes wear as well as the way their feet callous. And also asking them to put their bare feet next to the shoes that they are wearing and note, in most cases, that shape of shoe and shape of foot have nothing in common.

    I always thought of myself as bow-legged (i.e. I was hyperextended like you and your niece) until I got rolfed two years ago and found out I was knock-kneed due to collapsing medial compartment of knee due to flat feet. Wish I'd noticed that a decade ago!

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  5. It is amazing how we will compensate, isn't it? Just looking at that worn heel is a great example. Glad the Keens are helping so much Ruth. Great information to share.

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  6. Anonymous8:09 pm GMT-5

    This is a very interesting and informative post Ruth..Thank you and I am glad that your recovery is progressing well. I am going to check out those shoes...

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  7. Very interesting post.

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  8. Very informative.
    I hear these days good shoes are available tailor made for different kind of feet. Take care!

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  9. Great post. I fall into the overuse category. My knees literally ache if I sit for too long. They also crack when they are not supposed to. Gotta love getting old.

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  10. Anonymous7:22 am GMT-5

    Ruth, I have the exact same pair, black too! I walk on concrete floors eight hours a day, and have had SO much trouble finding comfortable shoes. My husband has worn Keen for a couple of years, and convinced me to get a pair for myself. I love the wide toe box, as I have a wide foot, and my whole foot seems to settle correctly in them. I thought they looked a little "clunky" at first, but I've had a lot of compliments.

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  11. Ruth, flat feet, a few ankle breaks and fractures, and one ankle surgery all put me on the path for feet problems. I already see some deformity in my left foot. I will check out your shoe links since I'm always shopping for the most comfortable shoe. Sometimes I start out with a two-inch heel at the office but usually switch to flats or Saucony athletic shoes by noon :o/

    Good luck with your program!

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  12. Ruth,

    This is a very interesting post and I learned a lot from it. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my knees and it can also be quite painful. I worked at jobs standing up for many years and wore boots (mandatory) with pointed toes. I also wore spike heels and pointed toes in my youth. Today my little toes lay on their sides. They will always be the same. This is from the pointed toes. They almost shoved my little toes under the one next to it.

    I do urge you to continue therapy and hope it is successful.

    I enjoyed your previous post. You were lucky to get the photos of the turkeys.

    Take care, my friend. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I wish you abundant blessings throughout 2009

    Mary

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  13. Anonymous4:29 pm GMT-5

    Very interesting post. My mother and brother both are double jointed, but it looks like I missed that gene.

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  14. I found this fascinating! Our youngest daughter can bend her elbows back, sort of like your niece's knees. Must be a similar condition.

    Also, I'm going to check out the Keen's shoes. So far, Brooks athletic shoes are the most comfortable I've found, but can't wear them with anything dressy!

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