Mobility shoes best for people with knee osteoarthritis

People with knee osteoarthritis who wear mobility shoes have significantly reduced knee loading – the force placed upon the joint during daily activities, says research published in Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Mobility shoes are designed to mimic the way people walk when they are barefoot, as this is linked to reduced knee loading.

Experts asked 16 people with knee osteoarthritis to wear mobility shoes for 6 hours a day for 6 days a week. Their gait was evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 weeks.

The findings suggest that after 24 weeks people wearing mobility shoes were experiencing an 18% reduction in knee loading, which is the force that’s put on joints during everyday activities, and is when osteoarthritis often develops.

No significant difference in the force was found between wearing mobility footwear and walking barefoot.

But those who then wore their own, normal shoes experienced an 11% reduction in knee loading, suggesting that the mobility shoes may have “re-trained” people in the way they walk.

“Patients with osteoarthritis who use flat, flexible footwear may experience a significant reduction in knee loading with continued use,” says lead author, Dr Najia Shakoor. “Our investigation provides evidence that footwear choice may be an important consideration in managing knee osteoarthritis.”