Abstract

CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT FOR PAIN AND STABILITY IN MEDIAL OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE USING LATERAL RAISE FOOTWEAR- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Manish Bhawatkar* and Amitabh Dwivedi

Abstract

In this piece of research a sample of 30 subjects were divided into two equal groups to find the effectiveness of laterally raised footwear in relieving the pain symptoms of medial OA knee. The groups are divided into 1) Control Group which received exercise strengthening program and, 2) Experimental group which receive lateral raise footwear and exercise strengthening program. The two groups were evaluated on the Lysholms Knee Scoring Scale, pain component, weigh bearing on affected extremity and muscle strength. Readings of Lysholms scale, weight bearing on affected extremity and muscle strength were taken at the initial and final evaluation. Readings for pain component was taken at initial, mid and final follow-up and data were compared. The study revealed that lateral raise footwear with exercise strengthening program both in combination brings better relief in pain and functional stability to the subjects of mild to moderate medial OA knee of the experimental groups. The lateral wedge shifts the centre of pressure (COP) and the line of the ground reaction force (GRF) more laterally to the knee joint by altering the angle of the calcaneus into a valgus position. This result in a reduced load on the knee joint in individuals.

Keywords: Quadriceps strengthening, cartilage degeneration, Osteoarthritis, Lateral raise, diminished joint space, altered weight bearing.