Mobility shoes make all the difference for people with knee osteoarthritis

 People with knee osteoarthritis who wear flat, flexible shoes – mobility shoes – were found to have significant reduction in pressure placed on the joint during daily activities, says new research published in Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Long-term use of mobility shoes helped people with osteoarthritis of the knee adapt how they walk, which improved knee loading even when the mobility shoes were no longer worn.

The study was small, consisting of 16 people with knee osteoarthritis who wore the mobility shoes for six hours a day for six days a week. Manner of walking was evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 weeks.

After 24 weeks, participants wearing mobility footwear saw an 18% reduction in the load on the inner knee when walking, which is where most people develop knee osteoarthritis.

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