Arch Support for Knee Pain

Knee pain can be the result of an injury or arthritis. In can be intermittent or recurring, but one thing is for certain: those suffering from knee pain need proper supports in their shoes in order to continue an active lifestyle without causing further injury to the knee(s). Most podiatrists would advise the use of orthotics in everyday wear to keep your body in perfect alignment. Although uncomfortable at first, great orthotics can be purchased on the cheap or even made yourself.

Go to the Doctor

• Perhaps this is the old-fashioned way, but your doctor can point you toward a medical supply store that will give you the best orthotics. This is probably the most expensive option, but it usually turns out the best quality. Many medical supply stores will make a mold of your foot and then have the orthotics delivered to their store in a few weeks. It can run steep, sometimes upward of $50 or $75 a pop.

Custom-Fit Orthotics

• Most drugstores will sell arch supports, but usually they are not enough to support someone who is in a lot of pain. Yoursole.com offers custom-fit insoles for $45 a pair (called SOLEs), but the catch is that you have to custom fit them yourself. Heat them in the oven for a few minutes and then place them in your tennis shoe. After standing for about two minutes (mind you, you have to stand so that your body is properly aligned, otherwise the insoles will mold incorrectly to your foot and be rendered useless), your insoles will fit to your foot and create alignment, dramatically reducing both knee and ankle pain.

Make Them Yourself

• The cheapest way to provide relief from knee pain is to make arch supports yourself. Simply shape some polymer clay and place it under your arch until the you feel your weight is evenly distributed throughout your foot. Don't use too much clay, because this could cause your arch to be overly supported, which would result in pain in your ankle and knee. Bake the clay in the oven until it hardens.

  You can also cut up old or cheap insoles or pieces of rubber to the exact shape of your clay supports. Gluing them together to reach the same height and trimming them to the exact shape works just as well as expensive arch supports. Glue them into your tennis shoes or wrap them on your feet with bandages before placing them in your shoes.