A new study suggests that adjusting the angle of one’s foot during walking can help alleviate knee osteoarthritis pain and slow down its progression. Researchers at NYU Langone Health, the University of Utah, and Stanford University tested whether changing a patient’s gait pattern could reduce stress on the joint and found promising results.
The investigation involved 68 men and women with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, who were randomly divided into two groups: one trained to walk at an ideal angle for six sessions, and the other continued their normal walking pattern without changing their foot position. The study used advanced MRI scans to track cartilage degeneration in the inner part of the knee.
The results showed that those who adjusted their gait reduced their pain score by 2.5 points on a 10-point scale, which is equivalent to over-the-counter pain medications. In contrast, those who didn’t change their gait saw little improvement in pain scores.
Experts believe that excess loading can contribute to osteoarthritis, and this study suggests that tailoring each patient’s foot angle to their unique walking pattern may be an effective way to address the disease. The technique has the potential to offer a non-invasive and relatively inexpensive treatment option for early-stage osteoarthritis, which affects one in seven Americans.
The researchers also note that previous studies have found limited evidence that changes in gait can effectively reduce knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. However, this new study is the first to show that personalized foot angle adjustments can alleviate symptoms in the long term and slow down cartilage breakdown.
The technique may have an advantage over pharmaceutical painkillers, which do not address the underlying disease and can cause side effects when taken for extended periods. The researchers plan to test whether advanced tools, such as artificial intelligence software, can identify the most effective walking method for osteoarthritis patients in future studies.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-small-technique-knee-osteoarthritis.html