The Effects of Specialized Footwear in Osteoarthritis

Exclusion Criteria

• •Inability or unwillingness to wear study shoes for at least 6 hours/day for 6 days/week
• •Knee flexion contracture of \> 15 degrees or inability to ambulate without assistance.
• •Presence of clinically significant OA of the hip or ankle or pain greater than 20 mm at these sites (WOMAC).
• •\> 3 degrees valgus or \>12 degrees varus deformity of either knee, defined by the mechanical axis (hip-knee angle).
• •Predominant lateral compartment OA, defined as narrowing of the lateral joint space in excess of the narrowing of the medial joint space in either the index or the contralateral knee.
• •Concurrent systemic inflammatory arthropathy,
• •Prior knee or hip arthroplasty, or surgical arthroscopy of either knee within previous 3 months or history of fracture of either lower extremity within 6 months of study entry.
• •Intrinsic foot disease including hallux rigidus, hallux abducto-valgus, metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, or any foot condition that may be exacerbated by particular footwear.
• •Intra-articular injection in the index knee: steroids within 6 weeks, hyaluronan derivatives within 4 months.
• •Pregnant subjects will be excluded because of the X-rays required.
• •Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the PI, would render the subject unable to complete the study.