The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery

The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery

The Effect of Biomechanical Footwear on Pain from Knee Osteoarthritis

Document Type : CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW

Authors
E. Carlos RODRIGUEZ-MERCHAN 1
Hortensia De la Corte-Rodriguez 2
Juan M. Roman-Belmonte 3
1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, La Paz University Hospital-IdiPaz, Madrid, Spain
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, “La Paz” University Hospital-IdiPaz, Madrid, Spain
3 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, “Cruz Roja San José and Santa Adela” University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
10.22038/abjs.2021.55417.2759
Abstract
The effect of biomechanical footwear on pain from knee osteoarthritis (OA) is still unclear and controversial. The 
purpose of this article is to review the literature with the aim of answering the following question: What is the impact 
of biomechanical footwear on pain from knee OA? A Cochrane Library and PubMed (MEDLINE) search related to 
the effect of biomechanical footwear on pain from knee OA was performed. Several authors have reported knee pain 
alleviation in people with knee OA using biomechanical footwear. However, many of them have also stated that further 
investigation was required to evaluate its long-run effectiveness and safety, as well as replication, prior to reaching 
conclusions about the clinical value of this treatment. The cost of biomechanical footwear treatment is around 5,000 US 
dollars. Considering the weak evidence currently available on the efficacy of biomechanical footwear and its high cost, 
we do not advise the routine use of that treatment until it can be unequivocally confirmed that it is truly effective for pain 
alleviation in patients with knee OA.
Level of evidence: III
Keywords
Biomechanical footwear
Efficacy
Knee
Osteoarthritis
Pain
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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 10, Issue 5
May 2022
Pages 381-384

  • Receive Date 06 February 2021
  • Revise Date 01 August 2021
  • Accept Date 08 September 2021