Among older adults with mild to severe medial knee osteoarthritis, custom-made laterally wedged insoles with arch support provided a significant reduction in pain, as well as improvements in function and quality of life, according to recent study results.

Researchers prescribed custom-made insoles with arch support and a 5° to 8.7° lateral wedge to 51 patients with medial knee osteoarthritis, 42 of whom participated at follow-up. Along with completing the Oxford Knee Score and the EQ-5D, participants were asked to retrospectively rate the pain intensity in their affected knee before and after the intervention measured on a visual analog scale after 30 minutes of physical activity, at rest, at night and after 50 m of walking.

Overall, researchers found that the visual analog scale score after 30 minutes of physical activity was significantly reduced after the intervention. Study results also showed the same significant changes at rest, at night and after 50 minutes of walking.

For more information:

Skou ST. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2013;103:50-55.