Osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and disability worldwide, and the knee is the most commonly affected weight-bearing joint among individuals living with the condition. But there is good news on the horizon, particularly for the 32.5 million adults in the United States who struggle with knee osteoarthritis — a new study published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders demonstrated AposHealth® significantly reduced pain associated with knee osteoarthritis and improved patients’ physical function and joint stiffness.
Finding the potential of non-invasive knee osteoarthritis treatment.
The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis has doubled in the US since the mid-20th century. For many, total knee replacement remains the most common treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. However, there are several cost-effective, non-invasive treatment options available before surgical intervention.
To that end, a recent retrospective single cohort study examined the effect of AposHealth—an individualized non-invasive biomechanical footwear system—on changes in pain, function, quality of life, and computerized gait patterns amongst patients with knee OA in clinical practice (real-world setting).
The study’s 455 participants, who all struggled with knee osteoarthritis, received AposHealth biomechanical footwear devices that were individually calibrated to each patient to minimize symptoms while walking and train neuromuscular control. AposHealth footwear was worn for short periods during patients’ daily activities for six months.
After just six months of treatment, researchers saw significant improvements in all gait parameters. Specifically, gait velocity, step length, and single limb support of the more osteoarthritic knee improved by 13 percent, 8 percent, and 3 percent, respectively.
Additional measures of success confirmed by the study include:
- 49% pain reduction and 46% function improvement (above the recommended 16% threshold for clinical significance)
- 22% improvement in the quality of life
The study’s findings come on the heels of another double-blind, level I RCT that also revealed positive outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis as a result of AposHealth treatment. Taken together, this emerging research represents a welcome step forward for people living with the pain of osteoarthritis who are interested in exploring non-surgical treatment options.
To learn more about AposHealth, watch the video: “Effortless Success — How AposHealth Works without Changing Your Routine.”