Jul 13 2009
Foot Type & Osteoarthritis of the Hip & Knee
University of Oxford researchers found an association between foot type and osteoarthritis in the lower limb. Individuals with high arched feet were more likely to develop hip osteoarthritis. Individuals with flatfeet were more likely to develop osteoarthritis at the knee.
To assess what type of foot you have, wet your foot and step on a brown paper bag. Compare your feet to the images below.
Low Arched Feet: The imprint of a flatfoot will show the sole of the foot with no dry space in the area of the arch, between the forefoot and the heel. The characteristic sign of a flatfoot is the low arch and in many cases the arch may touch the floor. Flatfeet are typically flexible and associated with pronation, rolling in of the foot during walking. This motion causes rotation of the leg inward and results in excess stress on the knees. More on flatfeet and pronation.
High Arched Feet: The imprint of a cavus foot (high arched foot) will show the heel and the forefoot and a narrow strip on the outside of the foot. High arched feet are generally rigid and lack movement upward at the ankle. The lack of motion transfers excess stress to the hips, which don’t have the same shock absorbing capacity as the knees.
Anne Reilly K, Louise Barker K, Shamley D, Sandall S. Influence of foot characteristics on the site of lower limb osteoarthritis. Foot Ankle Int. 2006 Mar;27(3):206-11.
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