Simple foot angle adjustment may help relieve arthritis pain, study finds
A new clinical trial suggests adjusting foot angle while walking may ease osteoarthritis pain
Osteoarthritis patients may benefit from a simple adjustment in how they walk, according to a new clinical study that suggests pain relief and slower joint damage may be possible without medication or surgery.
Researchers found that slightly changing the angle of the foot during walking significantly reduced knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis and, in some cases, appeared to slow cartilage deterioration.
The year-long clinical trial involved participants who were trained to adopt a personalized gait modification designed to reduce stress on the knee joint.
Results showed that those who followed the adjusted walking technique experienced pain relief comparable to common pain medications.
MRI scans from the study also indicated less cartilage degeneration in the intervention group compared to those in the placebo group, suggesting a potential protective effect on joint structure.
University of Utah, New York University, and Stanford University researchers collaborated on the study, which was published in The Lancet Rheumatology and co-led by Scott Uhlrich of the University of Utah’s John and Marcia Price College of Engineering.
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder among older adults, affecting nearly one in four people over the age of 40.
The condition occurs when cartilage that cushions the joints gradually breaks down, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Once cartilage is damaged, it cannot currently be restored, and treatment typically focuses on managing symptoms, with joint replacement surgery reserved for severe cases.
The researchers noted that this is one of the first placebo-controlled trials to demonstrate that a biomechanical intervention—rather than drugs or surgery—may meaningfully reduce symptoms and potentially slow disease progression.
Experts say the findings could open new pathways for non-invasive treatment strategies, particularly for patients seeking alternatives to long-term medication use or surgical procedures.
