• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.289-293
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• 2004

In the present study, knee varus torque and mediolateral accelerations were measured using the three-dimensional motion analysis system and a linear accelerometry in odor to determine the effect of heel wedges during walking. Wedges were inclined with 10$^{\circ}$ and 15$^{\circ}$ in medial and lateral directions respectively Both knee varus torques and mediolateral accelerations showed two distinct positive peaks in loading response and preswing. Medial wedges resulted in significantly increased both knee varus torque and lateral acceleration in loading response, compared with the barefoot walking(p<0.05). On the other hand, lateral wedges decreased them in loading response(p<0.05). This became more significant for more inclined wedges. However, no significant correlations were found between knee varus torque and lateral acceleration according to the angle of heel wedges in preswing. From this study, it was found that a lateral wedge would be helpful to treat osteoarthritis, decreasing knee varus torque in loading response. In addition, lateral acceleration of the knee joint might be an alternative to determine the effect of wedges and the alignment of the knee joint during walking, instead of measuring knee torque by the three-dimensional motion analysis.