Relieve Knee Pain with Foot and Ankle Care | Foot & Ankle Centers

Knee pain is a common complaint that can affect anyone—from weekend warriors to people who spend long hours on their feet. While many assume the problem originates in the knee itself, foot and ankle issues often play a surprising role. Misalignment, instability, or improper support in your lower feet can create stress all the way up your legs, leading to discomfort, stiffness, or even chronic knee pain.

How Your Feet Affect Your Knees

Your knees rely on proper alignment and balance from the ground up. When your feet or ankles don’t move correctly, it can throw off your gait and place extra strain on the knee joint. Here are a few foot-related issues that commonly contribute to knee pain:

At Foot & Ankle Centers our podiatrists Dr. Tavakoli, Dr. Knapp, and Dr. Treleven often see patients whose knee discomfort is linked to problems in the feet or ankles. By addressing these underlying issues, they help patients in Little Elm, Frisco, and McKinney, Texas regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve overall lower body function.

Flat Feet or Fallen Arches

Flat feet cause your knees to rotate inward, increasing stress on the joint with each step. Over time, this misalignment can lead to inflammation, discomfort, and even cartilage wear.

High Arches

While less obvious than flat feet, high arches can also create knee problems. Reduced shock absorption forces the knees to take on more impact, which may lead to pain during walking, running, or prolonged standing.

Ankle Instability

Weak or unstable ankles can alter your natural walking or running pattern. This imbalance shifts weight improperly through the knee, contributing to strain, discomfort, and even potential injuries.

Evaluating the feet is often the first step when patients have unexplained knee pain. Correcting foot alignment or addressing ankle instability can sometimes ease knee discomfort without invasive knee treatments.

Strengthen Your Feet, Protect Your Knees

Addressing foot and ankle issues doesn’t always require surgery or extensive therapy. Here are a few ways to support knee health from the ground up:

• Proper Footwear – Shoes with good arch support, cushioning, and a stable heel help maintain proper alignment.

• Custom Orthotics – Devices tailored to your unique foot structure can redistribute pressure and improve gait mechanics.

• Strengthening Exercises – Targeted exercises for the foot, ankle, and lower leg muscles enhance stability and reduce strain on the knees.

• Stretching and Mobility Work – Flexibility in the calves, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia supports healthy movement and reduces abnormal stress on joints.

Even small changes in footwear or movement habits can make a meaningful difference. Combined with professional evaluation, these steps often prevent minor issues from turning into chronic problems.

When to Seek Knee Evaluation

Knee pain is often manageable at home, but it’s important to seek professional evaluation if symptoms persist or worsen. Look for signs such as swelling, stiffness, or redness, difficulty walking, running, or performing daily activities, or lingering effects from past foot, ankle, or knee injuries.

Our team of experts at Foot & Ankle Centers assess your feet, ankles, and gait to determine the source of your discomfort. They then develop a personalized plan to restore alignment, improve function, and help you move comfortably again.

Beyond Footwear: Comprehensive Care

For some patients, addressing knee pain requires more than shoes and orthotics:

• Therapeutic Exercise – Customized routines to build strength, improve flexibility, and promote proper movement patterns.

• Advanced Treatments – Options like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Stem Cell Therapy, Radial Shockwave Therapy, and Regenerative Medicine to support healing, reduce inflammation, and restore function.

• Specialized Foot and Ankle Care – Bracing, stabilization techniques, or other interventions to improve alignment and reduce stress on the knees.

• Surgical Options (if needed) – Reserved for severe structural problems that cannot be corrected through non-invasive methods.

Every treatment plan is customized to the patient’s lifestyle, activity level, and long-term mobility goals. By addressing the root cause of knee stress—often the feet—patients can enjoy lasting relief and better overall function.

Regain Comfort and Mobility

Knee pain doesn’t have to slow you down. By addressing foot and ankle health as part of the solution, you can relieve discomfort, improve movement, and prevent future issues.

The team at Foot & Ankle Centers in Frisco, Little Elm, and McKinney is ready to help you identify the source of your pain and create a personalized plan for relief. Schedule an exam. Whether it’s recommending supportive footwear, providing custom orthotics, or guiding you through strengthening exercises, Dr. Tavakoli, Dr. Knapp, and Dr. Treleven offer comprehensive care to get you moving comfortably again.