The effects of three quarter and full length foot orthoses on patellofemoral pain sufferers when walking and descending stairs

Background Patellofemoral pain is a common disorder whose aetiology is multifactorial and is often attributed to foot function. Foot orthoses are commonly prescribed for this condition; however the mechanisms by which they work are poorly understood. Previous studies using single segment foot models have hypothesised that it may be control of the midfoot which holds the key to understanding orthotic control. Over the last decade it has become possible to divide the foot into multiple segments, however little work exists investigating the use of orthoses on different segments of the foot in this patient group. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb during walking and step descent between patellofemoral patients and normal subjects and the effect of 3⁄4 and full length foot orthoses versus no intervention.