Knee Arthritis Condition

A biomechanical orthotic for a patient with unicompartmental knee arthritis can be helpful but really only as a temporary measure. Arthritic knee pain is relieved by various anti-inflammatories, walking aids and eventually surgery.

If a patient is not a candidate for any of the above and does not wish to have surgery, then a biomechanical orthotic may help. With this condition the orthotic has to redirect forces within the knee. For medial (inside edge of the knee) arthritis, lateral posting is used. For lateral knee arthritis, (outside edge of the knee) medial posting is used. This approach opens up the joint space within the knee and the weight is borne on the healthy part of the joint.