Foot Orthoses and Knee Injuries

Foot Orthoses and Knee Injuries Issue No. 22

Many studies have documented that female athletes are more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury than male athletes, with several authors reporting differences in foot structure when comparing ACL-injured participants with normal participants. Could foot orthoses affect the knee injury rate in athletes? Today, we will review a study that examines this issue.

Sincerely,

Cherri Choate, DPM

Larry Huppin, DPM

Alona Kashanian, DPM

Paul R. Scherer, DPM

The Relationship between the use of Foot Orthoses and Knee Ligament Injury in Female Collegiate Basketball Players

A 2008 study by Jenkins et al. evaluated 155 female basketball players from 1992 to 2005 to determine if foot orthoses have an effect on the incidence of knee ligament injury. Athletes in the first four years served as the control group and did not receive foot orthoses. Over the next 9 years, all female basketball team members received foot orthoses before participating in basketball and comprised the treatment group. Data analysis included knee ligament injury rates.

Significance of the Article

Athletes in the control group were 7.14 times more likely to sustain an ACL injury and 1.72 times more likely to sustain a collateral ligament injury than the treatment group. This study "provides evidence that athletes who wore foot orthoses had fewer ACL injuries than those who did not wear any."

Significance for Orthotic Therapy

Foot orthoses may contribute to decreased knee ligament injury in female basketball players due to the control of pronation, and subsequent control of internal tibial rotation, and therefore, the knee. It can be argued that foot orthoses should be a recommended protective treatment for all female basketball players.

Reference