January is a popular time to start a fitness program. Knee pain often shows up for one of three reasons:

Instability of the feet and ankles. Instability can cause excessive rotation and motion through joints, up the legs and even into the lower back. These people gain the most from orthotics and footwear. By stabilizing the feet and legs, the joint pain is reduced quickly.

Improper Footwear. Just because shoes are expensive does not mean they are good shoes for you. Shoes should be selected based on foot structure, fit and activity choice. Get a footwear professional to assist in fitting your shoes.

Misalignment of feet/ankles. Not everyone is built the same. High arches, low arches, extra/ limited range of motion in your legs can cause secondary stress to joints and muscles. Even though you can't change the way you are genetically programmed, proper orthotics and footwear can reduce damage. If you feel orthotics would benefit you, consult your medical doctor, then book an appointment with the professional's in foot comfort.