Article

Patients suffering from medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA)
may be treated with unloader knee orthoses or laterally wedged insoles.
The aim of this study was to identify and compare the effects of them
on the gait parameters and pain in these patients.
STUDY DESIGN :
Quasi-experimental. METHODS : Volunteer subjects with medial compartment knee OA
(n = 24, mean age 59.29 +/- 2.23 years) were randomly assigned to two separate
groups and evaluated when wearing an unloader knee orthosis or insoles
incorporating a 6 degrees lateral wedge. Testing was performed at baseline and
after six weeks of each orthosis use. A visual analog scale score was used to
assess pain and gait analysis was utilized to determine gait parameters. RESULTS:
Both orthoses improved all parameters compared to the baseline condition (p =
0.000). However, no significant differences in pain (p = 0.649), adduction moment
(p = 0.205), speed of walking (p = 0. 056) or step length (p = 0.687) were
demonstrated between them. The knee range of motion (p = 0.000) were
significantly different between the two interventions. CONCLUSION: Both orthoses
reduced knee pain. Maximum knee range of motion was increased by both
interventions although it was 3 degrees less when wearing the knee orthosis.
Clinical relevance Both orthoses reduce pain and improve gait anomalies in medial
compartment knee OA.
Our results suggest a laterally wedged insole can be an
alternative conservative approach to unloader knee orthosis for treating symptoms
of medial compartment knee OA.

Langue : ANGLAIS