Our chiropractic clinic in North Dallas sees gender-related injuries more than you think. For knee-related injuries, research shows that women are 2 to 8 times more at risk than men. An issue in the foot, ankle, knee, hip, or low back can cause compensation in the movement of other parts. This can create other issues elsewhere in the body. The compensation can place additional stress on the joints, which can lead to an elevated risk for injury. A problem in the feet or hips can affect the knees.
The differences in the anatomy of the feet of men and women can lead to variations in how loads are distributed in the foot. These differences become more apparent at the onset of puberty. For example, women’s feet and ankles have greater joint mobility and ligament flexibility. This creates an increase in the risk for ankle sprains. Female arches also tend to flatten more while walking, which increases the chance of heel pain, tendonitis, bunions, calluses, etc. Fashion shoes for women such as high heels can also alter the biomechanics of the foot. Normal joint motion changes elsewhere along the kinetic chain.
Men vs. Women’s Feet
In addition to differences in the feet of men and women, the anatomy of the hip can differ as well. Generally, females have wider hip-to-leg length ratios. The angle the femur makes from the hip to the knee is greater, which can place more stress on the knee. This can potentially elevate the risk for knocked-knee (“genu valgus”), which can give rise to ACL tears and patellofemoral (knee-cap) pain syndrome—both of which are more common in women than men.
It’s not currently possible to easily alter one’s anatomy in the foot, hips, pelvis, or knees. It is possible to address musculoskeletal disorders in these various areas before they can lead to secondary injury elsewhere, which can include the knees. For example, problems in the foot can be addressed with orthotics. Your chiropractor can also apply manual therapies and provide instruction on stretches to restore normal motion to the affected joints so abnormal pressure is not applied to the knees.
