Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Fariba Ahmadi ¹
• Saeed Forghany ²

¹ Master of science student in Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

² Assistant professor, Musculoskeletal Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction: Knee osteoarthritis in the medial compartment is one of leading cause of limited activity in adults. Balance impairment has been reported in this group of patients. Laterally wedged insoles or footwear components have generally been shown to have immediate and long term beneficial effects on knee loading, pain and physical performance which may affect standing balance and posture control. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of four different designs of lateral wedges on static balance in patients with ‎knee osteoarthritis.Materials and Methods: 18 females (age 59.6 ± 5.8 years) with painful knee OA were recruited. Static balance was assessed using a force plate (AMTI, 1000 Hz) during 60s double leg standing. Movement of the center-of-pressure (COP) was measured under five shod randomized conditions: (1) no wedge; (2) 8.5 lateral heel wedge (inside shoe); (3) 8.5 ° lateral heel and forefoot wedge (inside shoe); (4) 8.5 ° lateral heel wedge (shoe sole); (5) 8.5 ° lateral heel and forefoot wedge (shoe sole). Balance control was quantified using the amplitude and velocity of centre of pressure (COP) data.Results: Whilst there was a trend for COP parameters to decrease when wearing of the various lateral wedges compared to no-wedge condition, differences did not reach significance (p>0.05). The total mean distance over the 20 seconds, ‎the 95% confidence circle area and ‎95% confidence ellipse area were all statistically significantly reduced when wearing the shoe sole lateral wedges ‎ compared to lateral heel wedge (inside shoe) (p<0.05).Conclusion: Balance was not affected by any of the lateral wedges. However, a trend was observed for COP parameters to decrease when wearing of the various lateral wedges compared to no-wedge condition which may suggest balance improvement. Greater improvement was observed wearing lateral shoe sole wedges.Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, Lateral wedge orthoses, Balance