Changing the angle of your foot while walking, also known as adjusting your foot position, may help reduce knee pain. It might also slow the progression of osteoarthritis. This is according to new research published in The Lancet Rheumatology.
The study, led by NYU Langone Health, University of Utah, and Stanford University, is the first to demonstrate that personalising a patient’s foot angle can significantly relieve pain. It also helps in preserving cartilage.
Osteoarthritis — a degenerative joint disease where cartilage breaks down — often affects the inner side of the knee, causing pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. Researchers believe excess joint loading (pressure during movement) can accelerate damage.
By subtly angling the foot inward or outward during walking, you can reduce joint stress. This eases pain and potentially delays the need for knee replacement surgery. “Helping patients find their best foot angle may offer an easy and inexpensive way to address early-stage osteoarthritis,” said lead author Valentina Mazzoli, PhD.
Inside the Study
- Participants: 68 men and women with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis
- Method:
- Gait analysis in a specialised lab
- Computer modelling to test four foot angles (inward/outward by 5° or 10°)
- Determination of each patient’s optimal foot angle to reduce inner knee stress
- Groups:
- Intervention group trained in six sessions to walk with their personalised angle
- Control group walked naturally without change
Results After One Year
- Pain relief:
- Foot-angle group saw a 2.5-point drop in pain (on a 10-point scale) — similar to over-the-counter painkillers but without side effects.
- Control group saw just over a 1-point drop.
- Joint loading:
- Intervention group reduced maximum knee loading by 4%
- Control group increased loading by 3%
- Cartilage protection:
- MRI scans showed slower degeneration in the inner knee cartilage of the intervention group.
Why This Matters
- Noninvasive: No drugs, injections, or surgery required
- Customised: Tailored to each patient’s unique gait
- Safe: Avoids the long-term risks of pain medications like liver or kidney damage
The research also underscores a shift toward personalised movement therapy rather than “one-size-fits-all” approaches.
Looking Ahead
While the study used a high-tech gait lab, emerging AI tools can now estimate joint loading from smartphone videos, making it possible to identify a patient’s optimal foot position in a regular clinic.
Future studies will explore whether this method works for patients with obesity and other risk factors.
If confirmed in larger trials, this simple walking adjustment could become a first-line, noninvasive therapy for millions living with knee osteoarthritis — potentially delaying the need for surgery and preserving joint health longer.