News from the World of Medicine

If you suffer from osteoarthritis in one or both of your knees, you’ve probably heard conflicting advice about what kind of footwear will help you feel and function as well as possible. Some experts recommend stable, supportive shoes with cushioning, while others believe that flat, flexible, barefoot-style shoes are better at decreasing symptoms. When Australian scientists recently put both options to the test, users reported more pain reduction and fewer adverse events such as knee swelling and sore ankles when they wore shoes that were more stiff and supportive. Although the right shoes won’t prevent those issues on their own, together with exercise, weight management, and medication, they can help make it easier to live with osteoarthritis.