Is there an evidence-based efficacy for the use of foot orthotics in knee and hip osteoarthritis? Elaboration of French clinical practice guidelines

Abstract

Objective To develop clinical practice guidelines for the use of foot orthotics (FO) in the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Method The SOFMER (French Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Society) methodology, associating a systematic review of the literature, input from every day clinical practice and external review by a multidisciplinary expert committee, was used. The selected analysis criteria were pain, disability, medications used and X-ray evolution of osteoarthritis. The recommendations are classified according to the level of proof in Grade A, B or C according to the French National Agency for Health Accreditation and Evaluation (NAHAE). Results In medial knee osteoarthritis, foot pronation orthotics – when there are no contraindications – can be proposed for their symptomatic impact, especially in the decrease of NSAIDs consumption (Grade B). To this day, there is no evidence of a structural or functional impact on osteoarthritis (Grade B). Outside of this specific clinical framework, there is no validated indication for prescribing foot orthotics in the treatment of knee or hip OA (Grade C). Conclusion It is necessary to have further randomized controlled trials to better define the indication of Foot orthotics (severity of knee OA, genu varum), test the efficacy of other orthoses such as cushioning FO. The long-term side effects, mainly on the external femorotibial compartment could also be assessed. A medical and economical assessment of FO prescriptions is also quite necessary.