A randomized crossover trial of a wedged insole for treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Kristin Baker, Joyce Goggins, Hui Xie, Karen Szumowski, Michael LaValley, David J. Hunter, David T. Felson 

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of this simple, low-cost intervention for pain in patients with medial knee OA.  Participants were at least 50 years of age and had medial joint space narrowing on posteroanterior semiflexed radiographs and scores indicating moderate pain for 2 of the 5 items on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scale. Participants were randomized to receive a 5? lateral-wedge insole or a neutral insole for 6 weeks. Following a 4-week washout period, participants crossed over to the other treatment for 6 weeks.  The authors concluded that the effect of treatment with a lateral-wedge insole for knee OA was neither statistically significant nor clinically important.

Arthritis & Rheumatism, Volume 56, Issue 4  , Pages 1198 – 1203

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