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Walking Aids OA — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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EasyOsteoarthritisWalking Aids OASCE Rheumatology

A 65-year-old woman has symptomatic right knee osteoarthritis. Activity-related pain is reducing her walking tolerance outside the home, although she remains independently mobile and has started therapeutic exercise. Which advice about a walking aid is most appropriate?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Consider a fitted stick now alongside other non-surgical management.

The correct answer is E. NICE recommends considering walking aids, including walking sticks, for people with lower-limb osteoarthritis. Her knee OA is already limiting walking, so a suitably fitted stick can be considered now alongside therapeutic exercise and other non-surgical care. Use is not conditional on radiographic severity, complete failure of conservative treatment, surgical referral or joint replacement. Walking aids may reduce weight-bearing through the affected joint and improve stability, walking confidence and independence. If a single stick is used for unilateral knee OA, it should generally be held in the hand opposite the affected leg. A wheelchair would be disproportionate for someone who remains independently mobile and should not replace consideration of a less restrictive aid.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), recommendation 1.3.10 and Devices rationale, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/Recommendations