Why Do Oofos Hurt My Knees? (Here's the Solution)
According to Oofos, the company's footwear aims to lessen tension and help properly align a wearer's knees, hips, and spine, ultimately reducing foot pain and allowing for natural recovery.
However, some people have asked me “Why do Oofos hurt my knees”? I’ve done my fair share of research and here’s what I’ve found out. Learn more about the topic right here.
Oofos flip-flops may cause a shortening of the gait
Oofos flip-flops could be contributing to your knee pain due to the shortening of the gait, which reduces comfortable movement, leading to increased lower body fatigue.
I’m not saying that Oofos flip-flops are bad for you. In fact, they are some of the best footwear with high arches designed to support the foot and relieve stress on the rest of the body.
However, when you buy your first pair of Oofos, your body might not be used to it.
You’ll hear this word often: gait. Basically, your gait is your manner of walking or moving on foot. Your natural gait is typically the healthiest for your joints, including your knees.
If you’re not used to wearing flip-flops, you might have to think about each step you take. This causes you to automatically shorten your gait, which could contribute to lower body fatigue.
And once lower body fatigue kicks in, you subconsciously change the way you walk. This change can tire out your knees, making you more prone to acute knee injuries.
Think about it: if you must clench your toes to keep your sandals on or step in a particular way to prevent them from slipping, you’re giving your knees a hard time.
According to The Noyes Knees Institute, lower body fatigue, which leads to knee pain, can happen with any ill-fitting shoe, but it is particularly common with flip flops.
Try this: Instead of flip-flops, try wearing the Oofos recovery slide sandals. Your toes don’t need to work extra hard to keep both of your feet comfortable inside the sandals.
Oofos sandals might cause misalignment
For your knees to function properly, they must stay in good alignment with your hips and your feet. Shoes that change body alignment force your knees to work harder.
Even if you wear the Oofos slides instead of their flip-flops, there’s a chance that the footwear may cause misalignment in your entire body.
For example, Oofos slides can change the angle of the feet, forcing your weight forward. This misalignment keeps your knees tensed and puts continuous pressure on the kneecap.
Again, I’m not saying that Oofos sandals are not good for everyone. There have been plenty of positive reviews about Oofos where people have experienced amazing comfort.
However, when it comes to footwear, it’s important to remember that no one footwear brand works for everyone. What is comfortable for one may be completely wrong for someone else.
The features of sandals that you need, such as arch support and cushioning, vary from person to person depending on the characteristics of your feet.
Here’s what you can do
It would be unreasonable to ask you to throw away your Oofos sandals, so instead, give your body time to get used to walking while wearing them.
Oofos sandals and slides have a patented footbed with a high arch designed to support the foot and relieve stress on the rest of the body, including your knees.
They are also made from OOFOAM technology, a foam that absorbs 37% more impact than EVA foam found in traditional athletic shoes.
Basically, there’s nothing bad about the footwear. They’re some of the best options you can choose to alleviate knee pain. All you need to do is make sure you walk correctly.
If you do wear flip-flops, stretching your feet and legs occasionally is important to relieve the pressure off of your feet. If you feel knee pain, take your sandals off and have a rest.
Related articles: