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Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with a decrease in function, increase in pain and risk of falls. Lateral wedge insole (LWI) is commonly prescribed in KOA to improve pain and function. Our study aimed to 1) evaluate the clinical symptoms and risk of falls in early KOA and compare with controls; 2) evaluate the immediate and four-week effect of LWI. Methods: A sample of 20 Persian dwelling individuals with early KOA and 19 matched controls were recruited. Pain with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Quality of life (QOL) with the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score, risk of falls with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and static One-leg Balance (OLB) tests were assessed. The four-week effect of 5º LWI was considered for individuals with KOA. Independent t-test was done to report the between-group differences, and paired t-test was used to report the four-week effect of LWI. Results: At baseline, statistically significant higher scores for pain, lower scores for QOL, and higher risk of falls were observed in KOA compared to controls (p< 0.001). A significant statistical decrease was observed in pain, and risk of falls, and an increase in QOL in KOA after four-week effect of LWI compared to baseline (p< 0.001). Conclusion: People with early KOA showed higher pain and lower level of QOL that were associated with higher risk of falls. LWI may have the potential to improve clinical symptoms and reduce the risk of falls at the early stage of KOA.

Background: Orthotic interventions for knee osteoarthritis (OA) aim to reduce mechanical loading on the medial compartment of the knee and may lessen the lateral trunk lean as the most important compensatory gait strategy. The lateral wedge insole is a known orthotic intervention for knee OA. However, the question whether the addition of a subtalar strap to the wedge improves its effect has not been addressed in the literature. Objective: To compare the effects of lateral wedge insoles, with and without a subtalar strap, on the lateral trunk lean in patients with knee OA. Methods: Twenty-three patients aged over 40 years, with grade I or II OA of the medial compartment of one knee, based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria, were included in this study. The patients were diagnosed with OA based on a clinical examination, and the diagnosis was confirmed with radiographs. A 3-dimensional motion measurement system was used to collect the gait data for 3 different conditions: (1) with no insole, (2) with a lateral wedge insole, and (3) with a lateral wedge insole and a subtalar strap. The immediate effect of the 3 test conditions on the lateral trunk lean was compared during a gait cycle a stance phase and at the point of midstance. Results: Based on the laboratory coordinate system, the 3 conditions had no significant effect on the lateral trunk lean during a gait cycle and a stance phase and at the point of midstance in patients with knee OA. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the lateral wedge insoles, with and without a subtalar strap, had no immediate effect on the lateral trunk lean in patients with knee OA. However, the long-term effect of lateral wedge insoles on the lateral trunk lean in these patients requires further investigation.

Tape measurement is a simple, affordable, and non-invasive method to evaluate limb length inequality in healthy people with leg length discrepancy more than 5 mm. The validity and reliability of this method decreased in obese people and in those with orthopedic disorder. →What this article adds:New valid, reliable, non-invasive, and cost-effective method is needed to evaluate leg length discrepancy in obese people and in those with orthopedic or neuromuscular disorder.