Foot orthoses in the management of chronic subtalar and talo crural joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gatt, Alfred; Formosa, Cynthia; Otter, Simon
• Is Part Of: Foot. Volume 27(2016)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Foot orthoses -- Hindfoot rheumatoid disease -- Chronic ankle arthritis -- Foot Function Index; Foot -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Foot -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Foot Diseases -- Periodicals; Foot -- surgery -- Periodicals; Pied -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Pied -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Pied -- Lésions et blessures -- Périodiques; Foot -- Diseases; Foot -- Surgery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 617.585005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2016.03.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-2592

Abstract

Highlights: Chronic ankle joint complex disease causes significant pain, functional limitation and disability. Both orthoses significantly reduced pain, disability and functional limitations. Either type of orthoses should be considered as a treatment of painful chronic ankles in RA. Abstract: Background: This pilot study investigated whether semi-rigid and soft orthoses had an effect on pain, disability and functional limitation in participants with chronic rheumatoid hindfoot involvement. Methods: Participants with chronic hindfoot pain were randomly assigned to 2 groups, commencing either with semi-rigid Subortholene orthoses or soft EVA orthoses. The Foot Function Index and the Ritchie Articular Index were administered pre- and post-intervention, which lasted for 3 months. Following a 2 week washout period, each group was switched over to the other type of orthoses. Results: Nine female participants (mean age 52.2 years (SD 9.1); mean weight 71 kg (SD 12.64); mean height 160 cm (SD 5.18)) with a mean RA duration of 11.7 years (SD 7.83), and a mean ankle/subtalar joint pain duration of 5.7 years (SD 2.62), completed the programme. Mean improvement in FFI score for both orthoses resulted in the same statistical significance ( p = 0.001). Statistically significant reduction in pain, disability and functional limitation was observed for both interventions, together with improvement in the Ritchie Articular Index score. Conclusion: Both Subortholene and EVA orthoses significantly reduced pain, disability and functional limitations in participants with chronic ankle/subtalar joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis.