Forefoot deformity, pain, and mobility in rheumatoid and nonarthritic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate how painful metatarsal arthritis affects foot and ankle mechanics and mobility.


METHODS
We studied 16 symptomatic forefeet in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared them with 14 asymptomatic forefeet in 7 nonarthritic subjects. RA limbs with significant disease at other locations were excluded. We measured pain and deformity of the foot using a visual analog scale and a modified articular index. A video based 3 dimensional gait analysis system and force platform were used to collect data on subjects walking barefoot at a self-selected pace according to an established protocol. Mobility level was quantified using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) ambulation subscale.


RESULTS
We observed considerable pain and deformity of the forefeet of RA subjects. During gait, motion and force measures revealed that RA subjects significantly (p < 0.005) delayed and reduced forefoot loading, which minimized use of the foot as a rigid level for push off. As a result, stride lengths were shorter and gait was slower compared to nonarthritic subjects. SIP scores revealed that these changes in gait resulted in moderate disability in RA subjects (p=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Impairments of the forefoot due to RA include pain and deformity, which produce characteristic stance phase abnormalities in foot function, a slow walking speed, and moderate disability.
O'Connell
P G
PG
Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1604, USA.
Lohmann Siegel
K
K
Kepple
T M
TM
Stanhope
S J
SJ
Gerber
L H
LH
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*