Ankle Pronation and Knee Osteoarthritis

Fortunately, this can be addressed with the use of lateral wedge insoles or shoe inserts that try to minimize or eliminate the ankle pronation aspect that reduces the EKAM and associated excess loading of the medial knee joint.

When assessing a patient, doctors of chiropractic will expand their examination to regions of the body outside of the area of chief complaint as it’s common for dysfunction in one body part to affect another. In this case, we can see that abnormal motion of the ankle can place added stress on the knee, potentially leading to knee replacement. For the patient to achieve an optimal outcome, such issues need to be addressed.

Chiropractic treatment for the KOA patient can include manual therapies to restore proper motion to the affected joints, specific exercises to strengthen weakened muscles, and nutritional recommendations to reduce inflammation. If ankle pronation is suspected to contribute to the patient’s knee condition, then an orthotic insert may also be necessary. As with many musculoskeletal conditions, it’s better to seek care sooner rather than later. The earlier treatment can be provided, the faster and more likely there will be a satisfactory outcome.