How do rocker-soled shoes influence the knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis? An analysis of biomechanical mechanisms

The apex angle of the rocker sole affects the posture and gait stability of healthy individuals

BACKGROUND

Rocker sole (RS) shoes have been linked to impaired postural control. However, which features of RS design affect balance is unclear.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Which RS design features affect standing balance and gait stability?

METHODS

This study utilized an intervention and cross-over design. Twenty healthy young adults (10 males and 10 females) participated in this study. Standing balance and gait stability were measured using a single force platform and three-dimensional motion analysis system, respectively. The experimental conditions included the control shoe and five RS shoes in the combination of apex position (%) and apex angle (degree) for RS50-95, RS60-95, RS70-95, RS60-70, and RS60-110. The main outcome measures were the area surrounding the maximal rectangular amplitude, mean path length, average displacement of the center of pressure along the lateral and anterior/posterior directions, and maximal center of pressure excursion as the standing balance and lateral margin of stability as the gait stability. Statistical analyses were conducted using a two-way split-plot analysis of variance with repeated measures (with RS design as the within-subject factor and sex as the between-subject factor) and the Bonferroni post hoc test (α = .05).

RESULTS

Regarding the mean path length, RS60-70 was significantly longer than the control shoe, and it showed a significantly increased lateral margin of stability. Thus, RS60-70 was shown to affect standing balance, limit of stability, and gait stability of the frontal plane during gait.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results suggest that the apex angle of the RS design feature affects standing balance and gait stability, and RS60-70 is detrimental to stability. Therefore, when RS with a small apex angle is prescribed, it is necessary to consider the patient's balance ability.

The effectiveness of foot orthoses in the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis is a disease of the joint causing decreased function and pain. Currently, treatments range from medication to surgery, with the use of different insoles and footwear recommended. These methods are effective by either correcting the position of the knee or providing shock absorption. However, there is little understanding of the effective characteristics of these devices.

RESEARCH QUESTION

This paper aims to investigate this question and provide future areas of research to help better define treatment guidelines. Foot orthoses are an example of non-pharmacological conservative treatments mentioned in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA). These include lateral wedge insoles (LWI), developed with the intention of load reduction of the knee. Different footwear has also been shown to affect pain, biomechanical and functional outcomes in knee OA patients.

METHODS

To address what features of LWIs and footwear make them effective in the treatment of knee OA, scientific databases were used to search for papers on this topic and then selected to be included based on pre-defined criteria. Data were extracted and analysed from these studies to provide a basis for possible areas for future development of these foot orthoses, and research required to improve clinical treatment guidelines. Databases used were PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science.

RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE

Thirty-four out of 226 papers were included after application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Regarding LWIs, the characteristics showing the most beneficial effect on either biomechanical, functional or pain outcomes were customisation, full-length, 5° elevation, shock absorption and arch support. For footwear, barefoot mimicking soles produced the most favourable biomechanics. Results also showed that insoles work in correcting the position of the knee, but it may or may not affect patients' pain and function.

Decrease in walking speed increases hip moment impulse in the frontal plane during the stance phase

BACKGROUND

Increased daily cumulative hip moment in the frontal plane (i.e., the product of hip moment impulse in the frontal plane during the stance phase and mean steps per day) is a risk factor for progression of hip osteoarthritis. Although hip osteoarthritis generally causes a decrease in the walking speed, its effect on hip moment impulse in the frontal plane is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between decrease in walking speed and hip moment impulse in the frontal plane.

METHODS

We used a public dataset of treadmill walking in 17 older adults (mean (SD) age: 63.2 (8.0) years). The subjects walked on the treadmill for 30 s under five conditions: (1) 40% of comfortable non-dimensional speed (CNDS), (2) 55% CNDS, (3) 70% CNDS, (4) 85% CNDS, and (5) 100% CNDS. The hip moment impulse in the frontal plane non-normalized (or normalized) to step length (Nm s/kg [or Nm s/(kg m)]) for each condition was calculated. Furthermore, the relationship between walking speed and hip moment impulse in the frontal plane non-normalized (or normalized) to step length was examined using regression analysis based on a previous study.

RESULTS

A decrease in non-dimensional speed (i.e., walking speed) significantly increased the non-normalized (or normalized) hip moment impulse in the frontal plane during the stance phase. The relationship between walking speed and non-normalized (or normalized) hip moment impulse in the frontal plane was fitted by a second-order polynomial.

DISCUSSION

This study revealed that a decrease in walking speed increased the non-normalized (or normalized) hip moment impulse in the frontal plane in healthy older adults. This finding is useful for understanding the relationship between walking speed and hip moment impulse in the frontal plane and suggests that a decrease in walking speed may actually increase the daily cumulative hip moment in the frontal plane of patients with hip osteoarthritis.