Arthritis Osteoarthritis Knee Osteoarthritis Using Lateral-Wedge Insoles for Osteoarthritis Knee Pain By Carol Eustice twitter linkedin Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. She is the author of "The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis." Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Rony Kampalath, MD on April 12, 2020 Rony Kampalath, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist specializing in imaging of the abdomen. Learn about our Medical Review Board Rony Kampalath, MD on April 12, 2020 Print Special insoles can work to help reduce pain associated with medial component (inner) knee osteoarthritis. The insoles, which are known as lateral-wedge insoles, lessen pain by changing the mechanics of the knee. A lateral-wedge insole is worn inside of the shoe. It is thinner at the instep and thicker at the outer edge of the foot. The angle of the lateral-wedge insole can be customized for individual patients. pattilabelle / Getty Images How They Reduce Pain Lateral-wedge insoles alter knee biomechanics during walking by reducing what is known as varus torque. Varus torque is twisting of the knee inward. Increased load across the knee joint is associated with the development of knee osteoarthritis. Researchers have suggested that altering the knee load may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms and slow disease progression in knee osteoarthritis patients. Severe knee pain and extensive x-ray evidence of knee osteoarthritis have been associated with even higher knee adduction (movement towards the midline of the body or inward) when walking. Lateral-wedge insoles can help to reduce varus misalignment. Who May Be Helped Patients who have medial knee osteoarthritis may be helped by lateral-wedge insoles. In medial knee osteoarthritis, alignment of the knee becomes varus (twisted inward) as joint space narrows. The lateral-wedge insole helps by correcting the misalignment and shifting the load away from the medial component of the knee. About 67% of knee osteoarthritis patients have medial knee osteoarthritis, while 10 to 16% have lateral knee osteoarthritis. The rest are affected in the region behind the kneecap (patellofemoral region). Effectiveness Studies have produced inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of lateral-wedge insoles. While some studies have concluded that lateral-wedge insoles have no significant effect on osteoarthritis symptoms or osteoarthritis progression, another revealed that some patients who used lateral-wedge insoles, in turn, decreased their use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and had greater compliance with wearing the insoles. More studies are needed to truly assess the actual benefits of lateral-wedge insoles for individuals with knee osteoarthritis. The use of lateral-wedge insoles is considered a conservative treatment option. You should discuss the appropriateness of lateral-wedge insoles for you with your doctor. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn tips for managing arthrits pain, medications, and daily challenges. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Effects of Laterally Wedged Insoles on Symptoms and Disease Progression in Medial Knee Osteoarthritis. Bennell et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. September 24, 2007. Special Insole Lessens Pain, Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Kerrigan et al. July 5, 2002.