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Could Special Shoes Be the Key to Treating Knee and Back Pain?
Recent research compared Apos shoes with physical therapy
Can you treat low back and knee pain with shoes? That answer was a resounding no at the beginning of my career.
During my first day of residency (back in 2014), my program director asked my cohort to review a special type of shoe made by AposHealth. The shoes promised to be a magic bullet that would alleviate musculoskeletal pain through the simple act of walking. I didn’t save my printouts, and I have changed computers since, so I can’t tell you which specific studies I reviewed, but I remember being underwhelmed.
With two new studies, it’s time for a refresh, and perhaps a change of heart.
The studies tested the potential therapeutic effects of wearing the Apos shoes, an FDA-cleared biomechanical device. These specially designed shoes aim to reduce pain and improve function by shifting how pressure is distributed in the foot during walking.
Each pair of AposHealth shoes includes two adjustable pods (called “Pertupods”) on the sole — one under the heel and one under the forefoot. The pods are adjustable and are calibrated for each individual to optimize the center of pressure during walking.
