Simple Knee Walking Trick Delays Arthritis Surgery

According to a study published last week in The Lancet, a simple change in walking technique could provide significant relief for those suffering from knee osteoarthritis and potentially delay the need for surgery. Researchers from New York University, the University of Utah, and Stanford University tested 68 individuals with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, training half of them to walk with their feet angled between 5-10 degrees inward or outward from their natural alignment.

The results showed that the group who adopted the angled walking technique reported experiencing half as much pain as those who continued walking normally. The modified gait was found to reduce pressure on the knee joint by up to 4%. Experts say this non-invasive treatment could help delay the need for knee replacement surgery for many patients, as the earlier a replacement is performed, the more likely future procedures will be required.

"Although our results have to be confirmed in future studies, they raise the possibility that the new, non-invasive treatment could help delay surgery," said study co-lead author Dr. Valentina Mazzoli, professor of radiology at New York University. With an estimated 100,000 knee replacement surgeries performed annually on the NHS in the UK, this simple walking adjustment could have a significant impact on reducing the burden on the healthcare system.