Orthoses are commonly prescribed in clinical treatment of various running-related injuries. However, the underlying mechanisms of orthoses are poorly understood.
The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of anti-pronation orthoses on biomechanical parameters associated with development of patellofemoral pain during running.
Eight healthy recreational runners participated in a cross over study. Each subject was instructed to run on a predefined track in six different configurations of an orthotic running shoe, containing adjustable medial wedge support, adjustable medial longitudinal arch support and adjustable midsole cushioning. Kinematic and kinetic data were obtained from motion capture and force plate system. A subject-specific lower extremity muskuloskeletal model was constructed based on functional joint trials. Inverse dynamics was applied to compute external moments and forces.
The results obtained from the model displayed that anti-pronation orthoses significantly increased foot inversion moment, increased internal foot rotation moment, increased internal knee rotation moment, reduced hip adduction moment and reduced lateral knee shear force during stance phase in running.
These findings supports the clinical application of orthoses as a prophylactic tool against development of patellofemoral pain. However, the orthotic effect was distally oriented with only small or no effect on local and proximal parameters, suggesting only subgroups with distal risk factors may benefit from anti-pronation orthoses.