The Effect of Lateral Wedge Insole on Coordination and Coordination Variability in young Individuals with Varus Knee during Walking

S. Assar, A. Dadarkhah, S. Azizi, S. Sharifzadeh

Abstract: The use of Lateral wedge insole (LWI) is a popular way for osteoarthritis (OS) patients to make the knee contact force more balanced. As well, some studies examined this beneficial effect on individuals with varus knee. However, the investigation of any coordination change caused the use of interrupting tools necessary. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first coordination examination of using LWL among healthy participants with varus knee during the gait. In this study, 14 male participants (mean age of 25.2±1.4 years old, weight 74.4±10.7 kg, and height 177.03±5.6 cm) with varus knee were included to perform walking task for seven times under 3D kinematic and kinetic analysis, in control and LWI conditions. Sagittal plane ankle-hip coordination during mid-stance and loading response was changed to anti-phase pattern, and shank-foot during loading response was also changed to in-phase pattern. Thereafter, coupling angle variability decreased in Ankle-Knee and Thigh-Shank in mid stance phase after wearing LWI. However, in the other coupling in each one of gait phases, no significant change was observed in coordination and coordination variability. This study shows that using LWI can alter coordination and coordination variability in few phases of some couplings in the gait phases.


Series on Biomechanics, Vol.36 No.2 (2022), 168-178
DOI: 10.7546/SB.36.2022.02.17

Keywords: Coordination; Coordination variability; Genu varum; Lateral wedge insole

Date published: 2022-06-17