Therapeutic significance of insoles in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract

The effects of insoles on managing knee osteoarthritis (KOA) symptoms remain controversial. This systematic review provides insights into the therapeutic effects and outcomes of insole use in older adults with KOA. The PubMed database was reviewed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). The articles' titles, abstracts, and eligibility per the inclusion criteria were screened for relevance. Duplicated articles were removed, and full-text articles were retrieved for further assessment, in accordance with the eligibility criteria. The included articles have been analyzed for general information, participants, and relevant findings, such as painful symptoms, loading rate, and external knee adduction moment (EKAM). The initial search identified 335 articles. Nine studies, including seven randomized controlled trials, one cross-sectional study, and one cohort study, were included for review per the eligibility criteria. There were 639 KOA patients, of which the majority were female, diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2-3, with a mean age of 54.5 years. The lateral wedge insole helped reducing EKAM and loading rates in patients with KOA. We detetced no significant reduction in pain following the use of lateral wedge insoles. However, lateral wedge insoles combined with customized arch support showed significant improvements in pain and physical function in KOA patients. Lateral wedge insoles with arch support significantly improved pain and physical function in patients with KOA. Other insoles did not provide significant positive outcomes regarding pain reduction or joint deterioration in KOA patients.