Immediate effects of contralateral and ipsilateral cane use on normal adult gait.

Objective: To determine the effects of ipsilateral and contralateral cane use on gait kinematics and peak vertical force in young healthy adults.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center.

Effects of footwear on medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.

This pilot study investigated whether lateral-wedge insoles inserted into shock-absorbing walking shoes altered joint pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with symptomatic medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA). Twenty-eight subjects wore full-length lateral-wedge insoles with an incline of 4 degrees in their walking shoes for 4 weeks. Pain, stiffness, and functional status were measured with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index at baseline and 4 weeks postintervention.