Role Of Lateral Sole Raise In The Management Of Primary Osteoarthritis Of Knee - A Clinical Study

Abstract

Background: Primary osteoarthritis of knee joint is a frequent disorder usually affecting the patients after 5th decade. Medial compartment of knee is most commonly affected leading to physical impairment in the form of knee pain, stiffness, swelling and alteration of gait in the advanced disease. Aim of this study was to study the role of Lateral sole raise as a conservative treatment modality for patients with degenerative OA of knee. Material And Methods: Study included 60 patients with stage I and II O. A. (Kellgren & Lawrance Radiological classification of Osteoarthirits) knee over 60 yrs. of age, randomly distributed in two groups. Control group has received conventional treatment in the form of physiotherapy with NSAID’s while Study group received lateral sole raise in footwear of 2 cm in addition to Physiotherapy. Two group evaluated by Lysholm Knee rating scale & Tibiofemoral angle at initial presentation (T0), after six months (T1) and after one year (T2) respectively. Result: It shows that mean of difference in Lysholm Knee rating scale between T0- T1& T0- T2 of control group & study group is significant while mean of difference in Tibiofemoral angle between T0- T1& T0- T2 of study group is significant except T0- T1 in study group is insignificant. Conclusion: Significant results were obtained in lateral sole raise group. Outer sole raise creates a favourable environment for healing of medial knee compartment articular cartilage due to improved biomechanics thereby leading to improvements in pain, gait and also in knee scoring. It seems that the wedged insole exerts no effect in patients with advanced degenerative changes therefore advanced osteoarthritis is not an indication for this method of treatment. These results led to the conclusion that treatment with a wedged insole was effective in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee. Out of all the modalities lateral sole raise seems to be the convenient, cost effective, non invasive and well suited to Indian population. [Khan A Natl J Integr Res Med, 2020; 11(4):22-26]