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

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 52.2years (SD 9.1); mean weight 71kg (SD 12.64); mean height 160cm (SD 5.18)) with a mean RA duration of 11.7years (SD 7.83), and a mean ankle/subtalar joint pain duration of 5.7years (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.