Flat-soled shoes (e.g. Chuck Taylors) = knee & foot pain?

[citydreamer1]

(I couldn't locate the Podiatry topic or sub-topic, so I apologize if this is under the wrong topic)

Hello,

This problem has come up over the past year (and incidentally, as I have reached my mid-twenties).

I used to enjoy wearing Chuck Taylors and other flat-soled sneakers.  For the first 5 years of my lifting experience, all I wore were Chucks.  No problem.

However, about a year ago, I noticed that knee pains and also foot pains had suddenly began to arise.  I also had a new job that involved running around and up and down stairs to check on things...  and I think this definitely was a catalyst.  My job was pretty casual, so I could wear Chucks.

However, once I switched to a plain running shoe with better support, the pains instantly went away.

Now, I notice that tons of people never encounter this problem wearing Chucks or flat-soled shoes...  Would my feet be shaped a certain way that made them more prone to these problems?  Are there any kinds of inserts that might offer support for me in this area?

Thanks for your time!

Cheers,
T

[Londres70]

Remar is spot on!  Totally agree.  The same thing happened to me when I started working as a nurse.  

[remar]

Yes, your feet can definitely be shaped different. You were probably getting dropped arches or too much pressure on other areas of your feet and that's why you were having pain. Now that your wearing supportive shoes the pain has went away. The wrong shoes for a lot of us can cause all sorts of problems with not only our feet but also our knees, ankles, back and neck.
You can buy inserts at any drug store but you might want to think about having them specially made for you. They will take like a cast of your feet and custom make them for you. It can be expensive but you can always check with your insurance to see if they cover them, if you have insurance.
If you can't afford to have them custom made, go to the store and try every pair they have in your shoes. I just picked some up tonight for my falling arches. It really makes a difference.