When arthritis affects all parts of the knee equally the alignment is not changed but there is often loss of ability to straighten the leg at the knee which results in a "peg leg" gait which in of itself brings the foot down with extra force on the ground. This deformity must be corrected. The loss of ability to bend the knee also accompanies knee joint arthritis.
When the cushion cartilage is diminished it results in greater impact directly transferred to the bones with each step. This is one of the causes of pain.
The approach to be outlined on this website is an alternative method to improve your knee range of motion while improving specific muscle group strength for the knee.
The loss of cushion cartilage in the knee may be substituted for by a special neutral balanced shoe insole.
Neutral Balanced Insoles: There are two types of insole construction. The common one is even and level depth across the insole. We have designated these as Neutral Balanced Insoles. Neutral Balanced Insoles have been used for various foot problems. They also have been used by dedicated runners. They have been helpful for athletes with stress fractures and plantar fasciitis. Neutral Balanced Insoles may be helpful for arthritis patients who have no deformity of the extremity. In this case the cartilage loss is in both compartments of the knee and only cushioning is required. This person would be well served with the standard Neutral Balanced Insole.
The Neutral Balanced Insole is intended for the person with knee arthritis but no angulation deformity.
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Neutral Balanced Insole is even depth and intended for those with degenerative arthritis but without angulation deformity.
Our Neutral Balanced Insole is made of Poron®. Poron is commonly used for shoe insoles because of its cushion properties, its quick material memory, and good wear ability. Is it better than any other? Not necessarily, but it is better than most off the shelf foam rubber insoles found off the rack in the drug or department store.
There is another advantage to our Neutral Balanced Insole and that is that it can be tailored to the exact shape of your foot. Instead of having the insole precut and guessing at fit, we provide a "slab" from which the insole may be first patterned in both length and width. A trial fit to your shoe is first performed with the pattern and followed by trimming the insole to your exact foot requirements and shoe size. This is not likely with insoles arbitrarily predetermined by size. They cannot anticipate either the person's foot geometry or the shoe configuration. They may not conform to preset lengths and widths.
The person with knee joint arthritis is still likely to lose range of motion. Therefore, the alternative non-operative approach includes exercise devices and instruction for maintaining a functional range of motion. Specific devices for this purpose are included in the package offered below.
PURCHASE RANGE OF MOTION AND MUSCLE STRENGTHENING DEVICE, PLUS THE SPECIALIZED SHOE INSOLES.
What is the value should you purchase? You will receive the exercise equipment and orthoses shown below; comprehensive instructions on how to care for your arthritis; plus a FREE membership to The Place in CyberSpace to get your questions answered and a forum to chat with others of like interest.
DrLanny's Knee Arthritis Package
100% Money Back Guarantee: In the unlikely event that you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return the kit for a full refund. details
The Foam Fulcrum Spacer and Dynamic Wedged Insoles are included for possible future use if your condition progresses.
What this is and what this is not: This is a combination of appliances, series of exercises accompanied with use of cushioned insoles based upon well established principles. It is not a silver bullet for a quick fix since there is no cure for degenerative arthritis of the knee. However, the person who wants a non-operative method in addition to the ones mentioned above this is another reasonable alternative.
*Note: These concepts probably would not help a person with severe arthritis manifest with severe deformity, a very stiff knee with very little range of motion and/or a person with knee joint instability. A person with uncontrolled pain and or swelling should seek professional medical attention.