Information for Medical Professionals

Foot loading patterns linked to knee osteoarthritis

Foot loading patterns may be linked to the severity of osteoarthritis in a person's knees, it has been claimed.

According to new research published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, plantar pressure patterns in patients suffering from medial osteoarthritis of the knee are subject to greater loading during the contact and mid-stance phases of gait.

The researchers behind the new study noted, however, that knee osteoarthritis had no effect on loading during the propulsion phase.

"There was a correlation between the severity of pain and the centre-of-pressure index in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis but no correlation between centre-of-pressure and radiographic severity," the scientists claimed.

Speaking to Reuters Health recently, orthopaedic specialist Dr Najia Shakoor claimed that research proved that walking barefoot or with thin flat-soled shoes produced the lowest levels of knee loading - meaning the latter could be more suitable for patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

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