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Stories for Reprint
Shoe Orthotics Help Knee Pain
By Erin Willis, MARRTC Staff
Some knee osteoarthritis or OA can be linked to how much weight knees have to bear. A new study found changing a person's walking pattern can reduce the weight on their knees and knee pain.
Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago recruited 44 people with mild to moderate knee OA to participate in the study.
The researchers measured how participants walked both barefoot and in shoes. "Reflective markers are taped on the skin of the patient's thigh, calf, and foot," said Markus Wimmer, Ph.D., one of the researchers. "Cameras record the position of the markers as the person performs certain activities and a force plate measures the ground reaction force from their feet. The motion, forces, and moments of patients are measured during walking and are compared against (people without OA)."
Participants were then asked to wear either a custom or wedge orthotic. Orthotics are shoe inserts that support and gently reposition the heel, arch, muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones in the feet. Custom orthotics also known as neutral orthotics are made from a cast of the entire foot and run the full-length of the shoe. Partial, or wedge orthotics are inserts that are strategically placed only in problem areas of the foot.
After two years of orthotic use, participants' walking patterns were measured again. Researchers found that wearing the orthotics decreased the amount of weight on the knees.
Although people in both groups improved, Wimmer, an associate professor and director of the department of orthopedics at Rush University says, "Overall, the wedge group appeared to do better." He also pointed out that the improvements were even noticeable when participants walked barefoot.
The study concludes the use of orthotics led to better balance, which reduced the weight on the knees and decreased knee pain. Less weight on the knees could slow the progression of knee OA.
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and OA is the most common type of arthritis; estimated to affect 21 million people. OA is caused when the cartilage attached at the end of the bone in a joint breaks down from wear and tear.
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