Authors (including presenting author) :
Chung WY(1)(2), Ong TY(2), Wong SM(1), Yung SH(2)
Affiliation :
(1)Prosthetic and Orthotic Department, United Christian Hospital, (2)Department of
Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong
Introduction :
Osteoarthritis knee (OA knee) is a common degenerative disease leading to knee pain and instability. Osteoarthritis knee (OA knee) is usually affected by increased medial contact forces and knee adduction moment (KAM). Lateral wedged insoles (LWI) were found to reduce the medial joint loading and pain. However, there is a contradiction in the biomechanical effects of LWI which may be due to the compensatory ankle motions and gait patterns. Limited research investigates its relations with weight-bear loading of lower limbs and in-shoe pressure.
Objectives :
To examine the combined biomechanical impact of LWI and ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and to investigate the effect of wearing LWI with AFO on knee pain improvement.
Methodology :
16 subjects were categorized into LWI group and LWI with AFO group. In-shoe pressure
analysis and weight-bearing line scanning were taken in the first attendance. Results
of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and OA knee functional tests were compared at 0 weeks and 8 weeks.
Result & Outcome :
Maximum force in medial heel significantly reduced with LWI+AFO group. There were no significant results between two groups in shifting of lower limb weight-bearing lines. In KOOS and VAS, knee pain and symptoms were significantly reduced in LWI with AFO group. In OA knee tests, walking speed in Timed Up-and-Go test was significantly reduced in LWI with AFO group. This study provided a comprehensive review for enhancing the prescription of LWI and/or AFO depending on different foot type. The measurement method of this study could be a cost-effective and objective method for investigation of the effect of load-modifying footwear.
