Determining Individualized Foot Progression Angle for Reduction of Knee Medial Compartment Loading During Stepping

Modifying foot progression angle (FPA), the angle between the line from the heel to the second metatarsal head and the line of progression, can reduce peak knee adduction moment (pKAM). However, determining the optimal FPA that minimizes pKAM without inducing unnatural walking patterns can be challenging. This study investigated the FPA-pKAM relationship using a robotic stepping trainer to assess the feasibility of determining the optimal FPA based on this relationship. In addition, it examined knee moments during stepping with three different FPAs, as stepping is a recommended exercise for knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation.