Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis is a response to the repeated and long term forces applied to the joint resulting in increased energy consumption and changes in the rate of displacement of the center of pressure in effected patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of an 8-degree lateral heel wedge in medial compartment knee osteoarthritis in change in energy consumption and displacement of the center of pressure in frontal plane. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with pretest and posttest evaluation was designed on 26 patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. The cases that were selected through available sampling had 40-60 years old age range. The energy consumption was measured by “Polar-Electro” system, and center of pressure displacement by force plate apparatus. The cases were tested with and without the heel wedge during walking. Results: The mean energy consumption and the displacement in center of pressure showed decline after using lateral heel wedge. The energy consumption was 0.381 before, and 0.318 after heel wedge use. The displacement of center of pressure was 26.99 before and 17.23 after heel wedge use. Conclusions: The use of 8-degree lateral heel wedge in a shoe can reduce energy consumption, as well as center of pressure in cases of medial compartment osteoarthritis of knee.

Authors and Affiliations