Kinematic effects of lateral wedged insoles in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis.
Takehito Ueda, Tetsushi Chikamoto, Makoto Asaeda and 4 others
PMID 37670760WHAT IT FOUND
Lateral wedged insoles did not restore normal knee rotation in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis.
Instead of correcting the abnormal movement, the insoles increased external rotation of the tibia, potentially placing more strain on the knee joint during standing.
Key findings
01Patients with medial knee OA showed abnormal knee rotation during standing, with the tibia rotating externally rather than internally as seen in healthy controls.
02Wearing lateral wedged insoles decreased the internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur, moving it further away from the normal pattern.
03The authors suggest that while insoles may stabilize standing motion, they may also place strain on knee joint tissues by forcing abnormal rotation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 11 patients, all female, which limits generalizability. The study measured kinematics only; it did not report pain, function, or clinical outcomes. The sample size is too small to draw firm conclusions about treatment efficacy or safety. The insoles were provided by the researchers, and long-term effects were not assessed.
Declared interests
The author declares no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as proof that lateral wedged insoles are harmful or ineffective for pain. This was a very small study of knee rotation mechanics only, and it did not measure patient-reported outcomes like pain or function.