The Effect of Laterally Wedged Insoles on Standing Balance of Patients with Osteoarthritis in the Medial Compartment of Knees

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of laterally wedged insole on static balance of patients with degenerative osteoarthritic knees. METHOD: Eighteen female patients were diagnosed with medial compartment knee degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) based on symptoms and simple X-rays. Patients were studied while they stood wearing shoes with the 5 degrees or 10 degrees lateral wedged insoles compared with a bare foot. Patients chose a comfortable stance with feet spread apart, slightly turned outwards, and were asked to look straight ahead at a fixed point in a quiet room. Postural sway and weight load asymmetry were recorded while the patients were standing on two adjacent force platforms during a 30 second trial. RESULTS: Postural sway and weight load asymmetry for 30 seconds were not significantly changed by wearing laterally wedged insoles with varying elevations (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The degree of the postural sway and weight load asymmetry for 30 seconds with the insole were not affected by the tilt of the lateral wedge.