The Effects of an Unloading Knee Brace and Insole with Subtalar Strapping for Medial Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Objectives: We evaluated whether a valgus knee brace and an insole with subtalar strapping could reduce pain and improve functional scores over 12 months in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: OA was confirmed by radiography in all patients, who were divided into three groups: exercise (n = 44), insole (n = 55), and brace (n = 19). Clinical knee functions and gait analyses were evaluated. Results: After 12 months, the clinical results for all groups had improved compared to pretreatment findings. Although the knee varus moment decreased and the gait speed increased when the insole was worn initially, the effects of the insole decreased at 6 and 12 months. In contrast, the knee varus moment decreased and the gait speed increased when the brace was initially fitted. The effects of the brace were maintained during the 12 months. Conclusions: The insole was effective for patients with Kellgren-Lawrence Grades II and III, and the knee brace was effective for patients with Grades III and IV conditions. Furthermore, the knee brace was more effective when worn for more than 6 months, while the effects of the insoles were not continuous.