title: Off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reporting chronic foot pain, in terms of self-reported pain and physical function, as well as objectively measured gait variables using an electric footswitch walkway.
  
  
  METHODS
  A small, randomized, controlled trial followed by a larger repeated measures analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The control group (n = 15) demonstrated no significant changes over a 2-month period in pain, physical function, or gait scores. In contrast, after supply of the footwear both the original footwear group (n = 15) and the control group demonstrated significant improvements, with small to large effect sizes, in weight-bearing pain scores, physical function, gait velocity, and gait stride length without increases in use of arthritis medications or walking aids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear is beneficial for people with RA even when subjects were unselected on basis of age, sex, disease duration, or disability as measured by the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, St. George Hospital, Kogarah, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fransen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edmonds
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000592:standards*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012775:Shoes / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires