Can a Lateral Sole Wedge Insert be worn with a Prescription Orthotic?
Lateral Sole Wedge Inserts are used and recommended to limit supination of the foot. Excessive supination leads to biomechanical overload of the medial knee making patients prone to early-onset osteoarthritis of the knee. By limiting supination, Lateral Sole Wedge Inserts not only prevent early-onset osteoarthritis but they also help to treat active osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee.
Can a prescription orthotic be worn in conjunction with a Lateral Sole Wedge Insert? Researchers from the University of British Columbia recently studied this issue. In a study entitled 'Lateral wedges with and without custom arch supports for people with medial knee arthritis and pronated feet', his study followed 25 patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee who have worn prescription foot orthotics. The researchers added a 5-degree lateral sole wedge under the prescription orthotic. Results were as follows;
| Using a minimal clinically important improvement of 17% for WOMAC pain and 12% for WOMAC function [29], use of lateral wedges alone resulted in improved pain in 13 (54%) participants and improved function in 14 (58%) participants. When using the lateral wedges plus arch support, 14 (64%) participants had improved pain while 17 (77%) participants had improved physical function. |
Although the total number of participants in the study does limit the objectivity of the study, the outcome is inequitable in the support for use of both Rx inserts and lateral wedges.
Lateral Sole Wedge Inserts are simple to use, easily trimmed and fit in all shoes. It’s great to offer an easy to use, affordable solution for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee.
Jeff
Medical Advisor
Myfootshop.com
Updated 3-11-2021
Lateral Sole Wedge Inserts
Action Orthotics™
