We have plenty of fairy tales about shoes that work magic in people’s lives: glass slippers that brought love to Cinderella, and sparkly red heels that gave Dorothy powers in MGM’s version of The Wizard of Oz.
In real life, footwear magic is limited to “unloading” shoes that may help relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis. These unloading shoes have stiffer soles, and slightly tilted insoles that reposition the foot, intended to reduce (or unload) strain on the knee. But a study published online July 12, 2016, in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that unloading shoes are no better than a good pair of walking shoes at making pain disappear.
About the study
Researchers randomly assigned 164 people with knee arthritis (age 50 or older) to wear either new unloading shoes or new conventional walking shoes every day for six months. By the end of the study, it appeared that both types of shoes were equally effective at reducing pain and improving physical function, with pain reduced an average of about 25%, and function improved by about 22%. It didn’t prove that both shoes are equally effective, but an editorial accompanying the study says the findings highlight “the promise of simple biomechanical interventions” to address knee pain.
Both shoes used in the study cost $180. But custom-made unloading shoes, and even custom-made insoles that can be inserted into a shoe, can cost many hundreds of dollars.
What to look for in a walking shoe
If you’re going to try a walking shoe to reduce your knee pain, look for certain features, such as:
- a “stability-type” sneaker with a rigid sole and supportive insole
- a slightly curved “rocker” sole that helps distribute the body more weight evenly as you walk. This sole may not be right for you if you have balance problems.
And remember that fit is important, too. Seek out:
- a wide, roomy toe area (what shoe salespeople call the toe box)
- length at least half an inch beyond your longest toe
- a sturdy area around your heel (called a heel counter), so your foot stays in place and doesn’t slip around, which can cause friction and pain.
“Most of the sneaker brands make this shoe (New balance, Brooks, Saucony, Asics), so they are widely available. The take home here is that any supportive, rocker-bottom type shoe makes walking with knee osteoarthritis easier,” says Dr. Holly Johnson, an orthopaedic surgeon and instructor at Harvard Medical School. “The other important thing is that keeping physically active is so crucial to bone and joint health. If the shoes make people feel better when they walk, and therefore they walk more, this leads to so many health benefits. Find something comfortable and go with it.”
Other options
Walking shoes aren’t the only way to relieve knee pain without surgery. “I see success stories without surgery every day,” says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, Clinical Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Her top recommendations include:
- Physical therapy: Dr. Safron-Norton suggests that a person with knee arthritis undergo at least three months of physical therapy as a first line of treatment. The program should include a series of exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles that support the knee.
- Weight loss: Shedding pounds reduces the pressure you place on your knee. That’s significant, since the force you place on your joints can be up to six times your body weight.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections can temporarily reduce pain and swelling, which can make it less painful to take part in physical therapy.
- Acupuncture: The studies about whether acupuncture relieves knee pain are mixed, but Safran-Norton says the treatment is helpful to some people. “If the problem is pain, it may work. If the problem is biomechanical or weak muscles, it probably won’t.”
- Supplements: Research has provided mixed results on chondroitin and glucosamine supplements to relieve pain, but Safran-Norton says some of her patients feel the pills make a difference. Chondroitin sulfate helps to keep cartilage from deteriorating. Glucosamine stimulates cartilage formation and repair.
Don’t expect these things to work magic overnight. “You’ll feel a difference after going to physical therapy once or twice a week for two-to-four weeks,” says Safran-Norton. The rest of the methods are used best in conjunction with physical therapy, not in place of it, she advises.
With a little trial and error, you have a good chance of finding knee pain relief without surgery — and you may get a fairy tale ending. If knee pain persists, you may need to speak with an orthopaedic expert about surgery. But save that for a last resort.
FAQs
The take home here is that any supportive, rocker-bottom type shoe makes walking with knee osteoarthritis easier,” says Dr. Holly Johnson, an orthopaedic surgeon and instructor at Harvard Medical School. “The other important thing is that keeping physically active is so crucial to bone and joint health.
What are the best shoes for knee osteoarthritis? ›
New Balance: Known for their excellent cushioning and stability features, New Balance shoes are a popular choice for individuals with knee pain. Brooks: Offering a wide range of shoes with advanced cushioning technology, Brooks is another brand that is highly recommended by podiatrists.
What is the new treatment for knee osteoarthritis? ›
One option available as of April 2023 is the recently FDA-authorized implantable shock absorber called the MISHA knee system. It's currently being used to treat mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, decreasing pain and increasing joint mobility.
What is the life expectancy of a person with osteoarthritis in the knee? ›
There is no cure for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and typically patients live approximately 30-years with the disease. Most common medical treatments result in short-term palliation of symptoms with little consideration of long-term risk.
What should you not do with osteoarthritis of the knee? ›
Repetitive Motions
Repetitive motions can further damage your knee joints which may already be weakened by osteoarthritis. Activities may include work-related tasks, hobbies, or exercise. If repetitive motions are unavoidable, you may want to take frequent breaks and use good form to reduce joint damage.
What is the breakthrough of osteoarthritis in 2024? ›
In 2024, the world of joint replacement and osteoarthritis treatment is undergoing a transformative period. Minimally invasive procedures, 3D-printed implants, and regenerative therapies are revolutionizing patient care.
What is the gold standard treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee? ›
Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is the gold standard when conservative treatment for arthritis of your knee has failed. This procedure involves resecting the ends of the bones of the knee and replacing them with a combination of metal and plastic. The procedure is one of the most successful of all surgical procedures.
What is the new device eliminates years of knee pain? ›
“Shock absorber” implant for those who aren't ready for a replacement. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first implantable shock absorber for people with early-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA).
What is the most common cause of death in osteoarthritis patients? ›
The risk of cardiovascular excess deaths increases with duration of knee and hip osteoarthritis. The major contributors are chronic ischemic heart diseases and heart failure.
What is end stage osteoarthritis? ›
End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.
If you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you will probably feel your knee is painful and stiff at times. It may only affect one knee, especially if you've injured it in the past, or you could have it in both. The pain may feel worse at the end of the day, or when you move your knee, and it may improve when you rest.
What can you do for unbearable arthritis pain? ›
Apply ice or heat for pain, and talk to a doctor about taking NSAIDs. How a specialist can help: They can recommend specific exercises and/or physical therapy, and provide assistive devices like canes. They also prescribe oral and topical medications, as well as injections, starting with cortisone shots.
What is the best vitamin for osteoarthritis? ›
Several nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just some of the natural products researchers have studied for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
What should I wear for arthritis in my knees? ›
Compression sleeves for arthritic knees
A compression sleeve is a stretchy brace that fits snugly over your knee. The brace hugs the area around your knee to help reduce swelling and increase comfort. It can also help you feel more stable by improving your awareness of your knee's location in space (proprioception).
What makes osteoarthritis in the knee worse? ›
You'll need to find the right balance between rest and exercise – most people with osteoarthritis find that too much activity increases their pain while too little makes their joints stiffen up.
Can shoes help knee arthritis? ›
If you're going to try a walking shoe to reduce your knee pain, look for certain features, such as: a “stability-type” sneaker with a rigid sole and supportive insole. a slightly curved “rocker” sole that helps distribute the body more weight evenly as you walk.
