A Multi-centre Feasibility Study Assessing Shoe-worn Insoles to Improve Clinical and Biomechanical Features of Knee Osteoarthritis
Shoe-worn insoles (also known as orthotics) can provide symptomatic relief for people with knee osteoarthritis. However, given they act at the feet, and given that many people with knee osteoarthritis also report foot pain, it is important to assess the effects of these devices at both joints. We will conduct a multi-centre randomized pilot trial to determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy.
• medial tibiofemoral OA defined as definitive osteophytes and joint space narrowing in the medial compartment, as confirmed with radiographs
• history of knee pain longer than 6 months
• average self-reported knee pain of at least 3 out of 10 (using an 11-point numerical rating scale with terminal descriptors of 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain imaginable) over the 6 months prior to baseline testing
• pain in the same foot/feet as the painful knee(s)
• ability to communicate in English
• show an immediate biomechanical response to the insoles. This final eligibility criterion will be determined from an in-person biomechanical assessment after participants have passed all previous eligibility screening.