Foot Pain Often Linked to Knee, Hip Pain

Bilateral foot pain is associated with increased risk of knee and hip pain, according to the results of a recent study.

While it has been noted that foot pain could be linked to contralateral pain in the knee or hip, no previous research has investigated the association fully.
__________________________________________________________________________

For their study, researchers examined data from 2181 participants in the Framingham Food Study who indicated pain, aching, or stiffness at the hip, knee, and foot, and specified the side of any reported pain.

For both men and women, bilateral foot pain was associated with increased risk of knee pain on any side. Men who had foot pain were more likely to also experience ipsilateral hip pain, and women with bilateral foot pain were more likely to experience hip pain on any side.

“Bilateral foot pain was associated with increased odds of knee and hip pain in men and women. For ipsilateral foot and hip pain, men had a stronger effect compared with women,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Dufour AB, Halpern B, Positano RG, et al. Foot pain in relation to ipsilateral and contralateral lower-extremity pain in a population-based study. JAPMA. 2017;107(4):307-312.