A meta-analysis into the effect of lateral-wedged insoles with subtalar strapping versus traditional insoles in adults with medial knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract

To systematically identify, collate, and analyze the current available evidence for the effectiveness of lateral-wedged insoles, with subtalar strapping, on reducing pain, improving function and improving the femoral-tibial angle (FTA), in adults with medial knee osteoarthritis compared to traditional insoles without subtalar strapping.Six computerised databases, namely Cochrane Library, CiNAHL, PEDro, BIOMED central, PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched. The included articles were then all rated using the PEDro scale to determine their meth-odological quality. Homogeneous data were pooled in a meta-analysis using Review Manager (REVMAN) software. Where statistical pooling of the results was not possible, findings were summarised in narrative form. Three randomised controlled trials were selected for this review. The average PEDro score was 5.7. A meta-analysis demonstrated that lateral-wedged insoles with subtalar strapping significantly reduced pain in the short-term (p=0.004). The review found that lateral-wedge insoles with subtalar strapping significantly decreased pain in the short-term and seemed to have a positive effect on the FTA in the long-term, when compared to traditional insoles without subtalar strapping. The lateral-wedge insole with subtalar strapping may provide a financially feasible adjunctive self-management treatment for knee OA and should be considered before invasive procedures such as surgery.

Keywords

• lateral-wedges insoles
• subtalar strapping
• medial knee osteo-arthritis