Associations between static foot posture, dynamic in-shoe plantar foot forces and knee pain in people with medial knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional exploratory study

Objective

To investigate relationships between static foot posture, dynamic plantar foot forces and knee pain in people with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design

Data from 164 participants with symptomatic, moderate to severe radiographic medial knee OA were analysed. Knee pain was self-reported using a numerical rating scale (NRS; scores 0–10; higher scores worse) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score pain subscale (KOOS; scores 0–100; lower scores worse). Static foot posture was assessed using clinical tests (foot posture index, foot mobility magnitude, navicular drop). Dynamic plantar foot forces (lateral, medial, whole foot, medial-lateral ratio, arch index) were measured using an in-shoe plantar pressure system while walking. Relationships between foot posture and plantar forces (independent variables) and pain (dependent variables) were evaluated using linear regression models, unadjusted and adjusted for sex, walking speed, Kellgren & Lawrence grade, shoe category, and body mass (for dynamic plantar foot forces).

Results

No measure of static foot posture was associated with any knee pain measure. Higher medial-lateral foot force ratio at midstance, and a higher arch index during overall stance, were weakly associated with higher knee pain on the NRS (regression coefficient = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09 to 1.28) and KOOS (coefficient=3.03, 95% CI 0.71 to 5.35) pain scales, respectively.

Conclusion

Dynamic plantar foot forces, but not static foot posture, were associated with knee pain in people with medial knee OA. However, the amount of pain explained by increases in plantar foot force was small; thus, these associations are unlikely to be clinically meaningful.