Shoe Orthotics for Improvement of Biomechanics and Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis

University of British Columbia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis

Treatments: Device: Lateral wedge plus medial arch support; Device: Lateral wedge

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02234895

H14-01313

Details and patient eligibility

About

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread problem in Canada, leading to decreased quality of life and increased economic burden. Current research has focused on expensive, invasive treatments, whereas inexpensive conservative treatments have received less attention. One such treatment is the use of orthotics to reduce pain and increase function in people with knee OA. Currently, clinical practice guidelines for the use of orthotics are vague and contradictory, and could benefit from more research taking into account foot posture. This study aims to compare the use of two orthotics designs in people with knee OA.

Enrollment: 26 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

i) age 50 - 80 years (to meet the American College of Rheumatology clinical definition of OA)

ii) medial tibiofemoral OA, defined as medial knee pain on most days of the past month and evidence on radiographs of a definite osteophyte in the medial tibiofemoral compartment

iii) pronated feet, defined as a foot posture index that is 0.5 standard deviations above the reported population mean.

Exclusion criteria

i) low pain score on a numerical rating scale of pain (average knee pain on walking ≤3 out of 10 over previous week) to allow detection of treatment response

ii) knee surgery or intra-articular corticosteroid injection within the previous six months

iii) current or recent (within 4 weeks) oral corticosteroid use

iv) any muscular, joint or neurological condition affecting lower limb within the past 6 months

v) ankle/foot pathology or pain that precludes the use of orthotics

vi) current use of foot orthotics

vii) use of footwear unable to accommodate an orthotic

viii) unable to walk without a gait aid

ix) inability to speak English or have a family member present to translate (required for the validity of the questionnaires)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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26 participants in 2 patient groups

Lateral wedge plus medial arch support

Experimental group

Description:

The lateral wedge plus medial support orthotic will be custom-made and designed using a 3D volumetric cast of the foot with the participant's foot in a subtalar joint neutral position. The cast will be balanced so that it rests in a neutral position then smoothed to address any irregularities and to allow for soft tissue splay. Polypropylene sheets of 3mm or 4mm thickness will be vacuum formed or milled directly to produce a ¾ length shell. An ethyl-vinyl-acetone (EVA) lateral post in the heel and forefoot of 5 degrees will be incorporated into the orthotic. The orthotic will be finished with a neoprene cover for improved comfort and patient compliance.

Treatment:

Device: Lateral wedge plus medial arch support

Lateral wedge

Experimental group

Description:

The lateral wedge only orthotic will be constructed of EVA, made to full length of the subject's footwear and incorporate a 5 degree posting. The wedge will be finished with a neoprene cover for improved comfort and patient compliance.

Treatment:

Device: Lateral wedge