Simple changes to walking could ease knee pain from osteoarthritis

By Stephen Beech

People with arthritic knees can ease their pain by making “subtle” changes to the way they walk, suggests new research.

Slightly adjusting the angle of the foot when walking may reduce chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, say scientists.

It may also slow the progression of the common but incurable condition in which the cartilage cushion inside a joint breaks down, according to the study.

Around one in seven adults suffer some form of osteoarthritis , commonly in the inner side of the knee.

A leading cause of disability, the disease is often managed with pharmaceutical pain relievers, physical therapy, and, in the most severe cases, knee replacement surgery.

Experts believe that excess loading can, over time contribute to the condition.

A team of American