Grant: Project Grant

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects more than 16% of Canadian adults and is the leading cause of long-term physical disability affecting Canadians. Most commonly affecting the knee joint, how loads (forces) pass through the joint during movement is a key factor related to the progression of the disease. Specifically, areas of the knee joint that receive the highest loads during walking are the areas that most commonly display OA. This leads to chronic joint pain, physical dysfunction, and overall reduced quality of life. As a result, treatment approaches that can effectively move high loads away from painful areas of the joint can have profound effects on disease progression and symptoms. Shoe insoles are one potential treatment strategy that has received much attention in recent research studies. By changing the alignment of the foot and ankle, it is believed that this can change the loads within the knee joint during movement. However, findings from previous studies on the effects of insoles on knee joint loads are inconclusive - some people experience reduced loads and pain, while others do not. Importantly, recent research has shown that many people with knee OA also report foot pain and dysfunction. Despite this, and the fact that insoles are worn in one's shoes, most research in this area has neglected the specific anatomy and function of the feet. We will expand on our recent work investigating the relationship between feet and knees in people with knee OA, and examine the effects of different types of shoe insoles on knee joint loads and symptoms of knee OA. We believe that accounting for foot posture when delivering shoe insoles treatment for knee OA will produce the best overall clinical outcomes. Importantly, since insoles can be provided for much less money than pharmaceuticals or surgery, this treatment approach can not only improve the large personal burden of knee OA, but also the rising economic burden