Fitness Blog
Customised insoles relieve pain in the foot
Wed Aug 6 2008The Cochrane Systematic Review found that orthoses were beneficial for those suffering from a variety of conditions including highly arched feet and overly prominent big toe joints, although the degree of their effectiveness would need to be gauged through further research.
Affecting an estimated one in four people, and particularly older people, foot pain is a widespread complaint, the effects of which can range from physically disabling individuals, to impairing mood and the ability to look after oneself. In most cases, those suffering foot pain will receive a mixture of treatments, including customised orthoses, which are individually tailored by being molded to a cast of the patient's foot.
Focusing on the findings of 11 trials involving over 1,300 people, the Cochrane researchers discovered that foot orthoses had the ability to decrease pain within three months in adults with rheumatoid arthritis and in children with and early onset juvenile form of the disease. Benefits were also evident in those with prominent big toe joints.
Lead researcher Fiona Hawke, of the Central Coast campus of the University of Newcastle, NSW, said, 'Custom foot orthoses can be an effective treatment for a variety of conditions, but there are still many causes of foot pain for which the benefit of this treatment is unclear. There is also a lack of data on the long term effects of treating with orthoses'.
Source: The Cochrane Library
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