Editorial note: SciMoTech is an FDA-registered Class I medical device. This is the maximum FDA-related claim that can be made for SciMoTech. Terms like “FDA cleared” or “FDA approved” do not apply and must not be used. Some claims below reference published research on gait retraining as a treatment category, including research on AposTherapy, a related foot-worn gait-retraining product. That research provides general context for the category; it is not clinical evidence for SciMoTech specifically. SciMoTech’s own clinical data is internal, unpublished, and has not undergone peer review, and is not cited here. SciMoTech Therapy is a conservative care option for patients to explore, typically before a surgical decision, alongside guidance from their physician.
If your knee feels stiff in the morning, achy after a long walk, or a little “creaky” on the stairs, you’re far from alone. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting an estimated 32.5 million adults, and the knee is the joint it affects most often. Understanding your symptoms early, and knowing what actually works, can help you stay active for longer.
What Is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee OA is a progressive condition in which the cartilage cushioning your knee joint gradually breaks down. As cartilage thins, the bones move closer together, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation. It’s worth knowing that more than half of people with symptomatic knee OA are under 65. This isn’t only a condition of older age.
Common Causes
- Age: cartilage naturally thins over time
- Previous injury: old ACL tears, meniscus damage, or fractures
- Excess joint load: body weight and repetitive impact
- Genetics: family history increases risk
- Muscle weakness: reduces shock absorption around the joint
- Abnormal gait mechanics: uneven walking patterns that overload one side of the joint
Early Signs to Watch For
- Morning stiffness that eases with movement
- A dull ache after standing or walking
- Swelling around the knee
- Grinding or clicking sensations
- Reduced range of motion
Comparing Your Treatment Options
There’s no single “right” treatment for everyone, but understanding the trade-offs helps you make an informed choice with your doctor.
Anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs)
Pros: Fast, accessible pain relief
Cons: Doesn’t address the underlying cause; long-term use carries GI and cardiovascular risks
Corticosteroid injections
Pros: Can reduce pain and inflammation short-term
Cons: A randomized controlled trial published in JAMA found that injections given every three months over two years led to significantly greater cartilage volume loss than placebo, with no meaningful difference in pain relief; injections remain standard, widely used care, and this finding reflects one specific protocol rather than all corticosteroid use
Physical therapy
Pros: Builds strength and improves flexibility around the joint; well-supported by research
Cons: Doesn’t specifically correct how force loads the knee during walking, which is often where OA pain originates
Weight management
Pros: The landmark IDEA trial (published in JAMA) found that a 10%+ reduction in body weight through diet, especially combined with exercise, meaningfully reduced knee joint loads, inflammation, and pain
Cons: Takes time and sustained effort; not a complete solution on its own
Bracing
Pros: Can offload pressure from a specific compartment of the knee
Cons: Doesn’t retrain the underlying movement pattern; often used as a temporary aid
Surgery (knee replacement)
Pros: Highly effective for severe, end-stage OA
Cons: Involves real recovery time and surgical risk; best reserved for cases where conservative care hasn’t been sufficient
Why Gait Modification Therapy Is a Well-Supported Option for OA
Most standard treatments manage symptoms or build general strength, but few directly address the mechanical root of OA pain: uneven force loading the knee with every step. A systematic review and meta-analysis of gait retraining for knee OA found statistically significant improvements in both joint loading (knee adduction moment) and patient reported pain and function compared with control interventions. A separate six-week gait retraining trial found reductions in joint loading and pain that were sustained a month after training ended.
This is the specific gap SciMoTech Therapy is designed to close. Using advanced motion capture and custom, footwear-based technology, it identifies exactly how force is loading your knee during walking, then retrains that pattern over short daily sessions at home, without surgery, injections, or medication. It’s a particularly strong option for osteoarthritis and patellofemoral joint (PFJ) pain, where uneven loading is a well-documented driver of symptoms.
It’s Not Just Your Knee
Research on gait retraining as a treatment category, including published research on AposTherapy, a related foot-worn gait-retraining product, has looked at effects beyond the knee, including hip and lower back pain. This is included here as general context for the
treatment category, not as clinical evidence for SciMoTech specifically. SciMoTech is an FDA-registered Class I medical device, and no joint-specific clinical outcomes are established or claimed for SciMoTech itself.
An altered gait doesn’t only affect the knee that hurts. Compensating for pain often shifts extra load onto your hips, lower back, or your other knee. Because SciMoTech Therapy addresses your walking pattern as a whole rather than one joint in isolation, it’s designed with this broader picture in mind. It’s worth discussing with your clinician if you’re also experiencing discomfort in these related areas.
See Whether Gait Modification Therapy Could Help
An initial consultation gives you a personalized gait assessment and a clear picture of your options, with no guesswork and no obligation to commit to surgery. Book your initial consultation today to see whether gait modification therapy is the right next step for you.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor about which options are appropriate for your condition.
Sources: McAlindon et al., JAMA, 2017; Messier et al., JAMA, 2013 (IDEA Trial); Shull et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2013; systematic review/meta-analysis, Gait & Posture, 2022; CDC/OA Action Alliance prevalence data, 2024. Bar-Ziv et al., BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2010; Bar-Ziv et al., Arthritis, 2013 (AposTherapy research, cited as category context only, not as SciMoTech-specific clinical evidence).