Objectives: To compare the clinical effects of lateral wedge foot orthosis with conventional physiotherapy treatment and only conventional physiotherapy treatment in patient with medial compartmental osteoarthritis knee. Group I conventional group, Group II experimental group. Subjects: Thirty (N=30) subjects, age 50-70 years were randomly divide into two groups, Group I conventional group (15 patient) and Group II experimental group (15 patient), who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited in the study. Design: An experimental design study. All tests of all subjects were conducted in the physiotherapy O.P.D. of Vidya Institute of Creative Teaching, Meerut, at Jai Physiotherapy and Dental Clinic, SF-06, Ansal Galleria, Ansal Town, Meerut and in the Physiotherapy OPD of Trident College of Education, Meerut. Patient who recruited in the study were assessed on day 1. Then patient were divided randomly into two groups. Group I conventional group (15 patient), Group II experimental group (15 patient). Group I was treated with SWD, US and Exercise. Group II was treated with same as group I and lateral wedge foot orthosis (Height 6.35 mm/ 10 degree, material rubber). Patients were reassessed again at the end of fourth week. Instruction were given to the patient regarding activities which they should not perform like squatting; cross sitting, prolonged standing etc. treatment was for six days a week for four weeks. Data Analysis: All analysis were obtained using SPSS windows. Demographic data of subjects including age was descriptively summarized. The dependent variables for statistical analysis were step length, stride length, base of support, cadence and pain while the independent Variable were Conventional Physiotherapy Treatment and Wedge foot orthosis with lateral raise. One way Multivariate analysis of Variance with repeated measures was performed, to analyze the differences in the gait performances among both the groups. The independent t-tests were performed using the difference scores of variables i.e. pre & post intervention. Significance level of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results: The results of my study showed that there is definitely some advantage of using a lateral wedge foot orthosis in addition to conventional mode of treatment in osteoarthritis of knee. Statistically the results are not significantly strong for all parameters i.e. step length, stride length, base of support, cadence and pain, but all measures hint towards a better recovery in the performance of the experimental group (Group II) subjects. Conclusion: The results of the study show that biomechanical correction by the use of lateral wedge foot orthosis has an immediate effect which is evident in some of the gait parameters. The changes would be more appreciable if observed for a longer time. The difference in both groups definitely hints towards a better recovery in patients with medial compartmental osteoarthritis of knee when a lateral wedge is used in addition to the conventional physiotherapy treatment. The results of my study supports the hypothesis, within the limitation of this study. The result of this study provides a base for further research as they presents valuable outcomes for practitioners treating the patients with medial compartmental osteoarthritis of knee.

Keywords: CAD (Cadence); BOS (Base of Support); ST (Stride Length); ST (Step Length); GRF (Ground Reaction Force) and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale).