Researchers say certain types of shoes are easier on the knees and may help ease osteoarthritis pain.

A team from Rush University Medical Center has found that flip-flops and sneakers with flexible soles are easier on the knees than clogs or even special walking shoes.

"Our study demonstrated that flat, flexible footwear significantly reduces the load on the knee joints compared with supportive, stable shoes with less flexible soles," said the study’s lead author Dr. Najia Shakoor.

Shakoor and her team analyzed the gait of 31 patients with symptoms of osteoarthritis for the study appearing in the journal Arthritis Care and Research. They observed the participants while they walked barefoot and with four popular shoe types including Dansko clogs, prescription stability shoes, flat athletic shoes with flexible soles and flip-flops.

They found that the loads on the knee joints differed significantly depending on the footwear. For the clogs and stability shoes, the loads on the knee joints were up to 15 percent greater than with the flat walking shoes, flip-flops or barefoot walking.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and a significant source of disability and impaired quality of life.

According to the Mayo Clinic, among some of the natural treatments for joint pain are nutritional supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin, acupuncture, tai chi and yoga.