Are lateral wedge insoles effective for medial knee osteoarthritis?

January 01, 0001

Are lateral wedge insoles effective for medial knee osteoarthritis?

These Australian researchers examined the efficacy of lateral wedge insoles in medial knee osteoarthritis. They performed a randomized controlled trial of patients 50 years old or older with radiographic and clinical medial knee osteoarthritis (n=200) were randomized to full length 5 degree lateral wedged insoles or flat control insoles to be worn daily for a year. Primary outcomes measured included overall knee pain quantified with an 11 point numerical rating scale and volume of medial tibial cartilage from magnetic resonance imaging scans. Secondary outcomes included function, stiffness, and health related quality of life, and progression of medial cartilage defects.

The researchers found: "Between group differences did not differ significantly for the primary outcomes of change in overall pain (-0.3 points) and change in medial tibial cartilage volume (-0.4 mm3), and confidence intervals did not include minimal clinically important differences. None of the changes in secondary outcomes showed differences between groups."

The researchers concluded: "Lateral wedge insoles worn for 12 months provided no symptomatic or structural benefits compared with flat control insoles."

Lateral wedge insoles do not appear to provide benefit for medial knee osteoarthritis.

For the full abstract, click here.

BMJ bmj:d2912, 18 May 2011 © 2011 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Lateral wedge insoles for medial knee osteoarthritis: 12 month randomised controlled trial. Kim L Bennell, Kelly-Ann Bowles, Craig Payne, et al. Correspondence to K L Bennell: [email protected]

Category: M. Musculoskeletal. Keywords: osteoarthritis, medial, insoles, pain, cartilidge, randomized controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 7 June 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.