Assessment of balance control using limits of stability and Tandem walk Tests: Immediate and long-term effects of textured insoles in individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Introduction

Somatosensory dysfunction in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) often leads to poor balance control and elevated fall risk. Although textured insoles appear promising as an intervention for balance enhancement, research has yet to fully explore their long-term effectiveness in this specific patient population.

Method

Twenty-two participants (11 with knee OA, 11 healthy controls) underwent balance assessment using the NeuroCom system. Measurements included Limits of Stability test parameters and Tandem Walk parameters evaluated at baseline, immediately after textured insole insertion, and following three months of continuous use.

Results

At baseline, the knee OA group showed significantly poorer performance in reaction time (p = .022), step width (p = .032), and movement speed (p = .003) compared to controls. With immediate application of textured insoles, the knee OA group demonstrated significant improvements in reaction time (p = .029) compared to baseline, while the control group showed no significant immediate changes. After three months of textured insole use, the knee OA group maintained their initial improvements without significant changes (all p > .05), indicating no habituation effects. The healthy control group showed significant improvements in reaction time (p = .014) and end sway (p = .041) after three months of use.

Conclusion

Textured insoles demonstrated immediate and sustained improvements in balance control parameters among individuals with knee OA, with maintained benefits over a three-month period. These findings suggest that textured insoles may be an effective long-term intervention for improving balance control in individuals with knee OA.