Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), or “runner’s knee,” is characterized by pain around the kneecap or patella. A new study from the University of Calgary, Canada, suggests that altering the mechanical loading in the knee joint using orthotic insoles may result in significant pain reduction for those suffering from PFPS. The study was published online July 31 in the open-access, peer-reviewed journal PLOS One.
The wedged insole conditions tested in this study. Photograph courtesy of PLOS One and the study authors.
“Our aim with this study was to determine if altered knee joint biomechanics would result in improved symptoms for runners who suffer from physician-diagnosed PFPS,” said lead researcher of the study Ryan Lewinson, a doctoral student and Vanier Scholar in biomedical engineering and a medical student in the Cumming School of Medicine.
The six-week-long study included a cohort of 27 volunteers who were clinically diagnosed with PFPS. Volunteers were divided into two groups, and each were given a different type of orthotic for their shoes. The orthotics were designed to alter their knee joint loads while running.
“What we found was that regardless of which orthotic volunteers received, there was a relationship between change in biomechanics induced by the orthotic, and change in pain over the six-week period,” said Lewinson. “Specifically, those who experienced large changes to knee loading tended to experience larger reductions in pain, whereas those experiencing just small biomechanical changes tended to only experience small or no reductions in pain.”
Although previous studies have shown that orthotic insoles can reduce pain, Lewinson said he believes they can be fine-tuned to the point of developing custom orthotics based on an individual’s characteristics. “If we can figure out ways of predicting someone’s biomechanical response without needing a specialized biomechanics lab, we may one day be able to match the right intervention with the right person to optimize treatment of PFPS on a patient-by-patient basis.”
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from materials provided by the University of Calgary.
