Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chung WY(1)(2), Ong TY(2), Wong SM(1), Yung SH(2)
Affiliation :
(1)Prosthetic and Orthotic Department, United Christian Hospital, (2)Department of Orthopaetics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Introduction :
Osteoarthritis knee (OA knee) is usually affected by increased medial contact forces
and knee adduction moment (KAM). Lateral wedged insoles (LWI) were found to reduce the
medial joint loading and pain. However, there is a contradiction in the biomechanical
effects of LWI which may be due to the compensatory ankle motions and gait patterns.
Limited research investigates its relations with weight-bear loading of lower limbs
and in-shoe pressure.
Objectives :
To examine the combined biomechanical impact of LWI and ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and
knee pain improvement.
Methodology :
16 subjects were categorized into LWI group and LWI with AFO group. In-shoe pressure
analysis and weight-bearing line scanning were taken in the first attendance. Results
of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), pain intensity and OA knee
functional tests were compared at 0 weeks and 8 weeks.
Result & Outcome :
Maximum force in medial heel was significantly reduced in LWI with AFO group by providing additional inversion and eversion control, arch support and stability. Shifting of lower limb weight-bearing lines showed no significant results in two groups. In KOOS and VAS, knee pain and symptoms were significantly reduced in LWI with AFO group. In OA knee tests, walking speed in Timed Up-and-Go test was significantly reduced in LWI with AFO group. This study provided a comprehensive review for enhancing the prescription of LWI and/or AFO depending on different foot type. The measurement method of this study could be a cost-effective and objective method for investigation of the effect of load-modifying footwear.
