Best shoes for painful knees and ankles

[audge]

Hi all,
I just started walking to try and train for my early June start. After trying several different shoes my old ankle/heel injury and knee strain have started acting up. I tried each shoe for only a mile.
Are trail runner or hiking shoes better for all the pounding? I have tried both and think the Moab ventilators were the hardest on my ankle because of the stiff sole (though I liked the feel of them). Any opinions about the Sportiva Wildcat? I just tried it in the store. It seems comfortable, but will the sole hold up?
I plan to use hiking poles as well, but now wondering if I need to postpone my trip. I don't want to start out with a bad ankle, but so far the shoes seem to aggravate it.

Any thoughts on shoes and joints and old injuries?
I am in my mid 50's.

 

[fortview]

Hi audge,
If you look at the equipment section of this forum, you will see a thread by someone called gregdedman, who is offering advice to people about their footwear. There's also lots of other help in that section.
Good luck!

 

[Pieces]

I used the solomon speedcross, which are the most cushioned shoes i could find. The will only last one Camino a pair though, but never had any blisters from them so no breaking in.

 

[Kanga]

I also have knee/ankle problems. Old broken ankles and skiing knee injuries. Stiff boots are the worst for me. I now go with lightweight runners but have to be careful they are neutral and take my inserts. My husband wears Jacoform - basically flat loafers with extra wide toes. It is a very personal decision; don't listen to anyone but your own feet! Whatever are the most comfortable shoes for long walks at home will probably work best for you on the camino

 

[zammy]

It's hard to advise without knowing the nature of your injury. An ankle is an ankle is not a knee...
One thing I do advise is to strengthen your quadricep muscles, these help reducing knee problems.
Also I recommend you see a professional help, I know there many people here who know stuff about injuries but a professional advise is the best. Look for one who's a sportsman or treat runners.
If you have started training and it hurts-slow down but don't stop. Watch when and where it hurts: uphill, downhill, up stairs or downstairs, with pack, where exactly does it hurt: exact points . Does it hurts only when you walk, after you are done etc.

 

[KinkyOne]

Totally agree with zammy!

It is not the gear that's important, it just helps you. You have to listen to your body. I too have old injuries regarding ankles (several times twisted at basketball) and knees (injured while climbing) and even at my age (43) I have to take a lot of precaution and training to make before long distance walking. Especially after bad experience in 2009 when I had to stop in Logrono, because I went on Camino with twisted right ankle (2 weeks before departure while jogging). After all those preparations, training and sooo big wish you really don't want something like that to happen.

All the best!

 

[NicoZ]

If you have bad knees the best thing you can do is get any excess weight off. I don't mean just a lighter backpack but lowering your own weight. Every step you take every day ends up with all your weight on one knee.

Boots give more ankle support when compared to low cut shoes.

 

[audge]

Thanks guys,
my weight is not a problem. I am a small framed skinny female. I have however, had 2 bad sprains and one broken bone in this foot. These are old injuries, but somehow walking in hiking shoes is aggravating it big time. I may also be getting used to the Superfeet insoles, though I thought they would help. My knee is just weak with a bit of tendonitis.
I am wondering if I should go with a stronger sole, or a trail runner with good support?
I may post this question on the foot question as was suggested earlier.

Thanks

 

[Kanga]

What do you normally wear at home for walking? Are they comfortable? If you don't have any comfortable shoes it might help to see a podiatrist. I developed a weird internal pain from a particular pair of shoes. They were supposedly the bees knees sold to me by an "expert" fitter in a specialist trekking store. They ust did not suit me. The podiatrist straight away could see they were wrong for my gait and put me onto much more lightweight flexible shoes - problem solved. Everyone is different - you need personalised advise from someone who understands feet and your particular problems.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Hi Audge,
There are many good hiking shoes/boots, but you have to try them on and determine if it's the right fit for you. You say you've begun training, and also state that you intend to use hiking poles. My recommendation would be that you train with your poles so you are able to reduce the impact on your legs, knees, ankles, and feet. This is especially true when going downhill. It is a well-known fact that trekking poles can reduce compressive force on the knees by up to 25 %. So try it like this, and hopefully you will see a great improvement and still feel encouraged to do your Camino!

Ultreia!

Mary

 

[fraluchi]

Everyone is different - you need personalised advise from someone who understands feet and your particular problems.

Absolutely! A forum will give some ideas of what to wear, when and how, (and this one is loaded with advice!) but your problems with ankles, knees and tendonitis must be adressed by a professional. :wink:

 

[KinkyOne]

I remember a German guy Ingo who was in great pain all the way to Burgos where he found a store with sports equipment and they've made new soles for his boots. He explained the whole process as quite scientific and later on he just flew on the Camino. Maybe that would be of a help also for ankle or knee pain.

 

[Corwen]

If you are walking with the lightest possible pack (sub 4k) and you have good poles, reasonable shoes that fit then either you need orthotic insoles because your problems are postural, or you need to adjust your walking style. It may be you have bad habits in walking like turning feet outwards, walking with excessive heel strike, or that you have knees which spread, one leg longer than the other etc etc. Seeing a chiropractor might help.

Try walking a short distance focussing on how you put your feet down, aiming more for an even landing across the whole foot than banging down on your heels. Think about how you would walk barefoot, where you have to put your forefoot/midfoot down first. Be very careful with this, and only do it for a short time as you will be using unaccustomed muscles and could injure yourself. If it feels beneficial though you will have to build those muscles up through slowly increasing the amount each day you walk without heel strike.

 

[Kanga]

I suggest that the most helpful professional would be a podiatrist. In Australia they are 4 year university trained and have mandatory continuing education to stay registered. I quote from their registration board:

A podiatrist is a health professional who deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical conditions of the feet and lower limbs.

The conditions podiatrists treat include those resulting from bone and joint disorders such as arthritis and soft-tissue and muscular pathologies as well as neurological and circulatory diseases.

Podiatrists are also able to diagnose and treat any complications of the above which affect the lower limb. Foot injuries gained through sport or other activities are also diagnosed and treated by podiatrists.

 

[HermanTheGerman]

Re: Re: Best shoes for painful knees and ankles

I used the solomon speedcross, which are the most cushioned shoes i could find. The will only last one Camino a pair though, but never had any blisters from them so no breaking in.

Yep, Salomons work for me too. I broke my ankle 2 years ago in biker boots (admittedly doing something stupid at the time) and have been wearing salomons ever since. I even wrote to them asking their opinion on what they would recommend for walking a Camino. I have just finished breaking in my xa pro 3d mid ultra gtxs. No blisters with a very minimal sock approach. Very happy with them.

 

[HermanTheGerman]

Re: Re: Best shoes for painful knees and ankles

After trying several different shoes my old ankle/heel injury and knee strain have started acting up.

I always do some stretching before a long hike, run, ski tour or mountain bike tour. It helps a lot, and hiking with poles reduces the amount of strain (weight that your knees have to support) quite significantly.