Foot musculoskeletal disorders, pain, and foot-related functional limitation in older persons.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether common musculoskeletal disorders of feet are associated with pain and foot-related functional limitation.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using stratified random sampling.


METHODS
A residential community.


METHODS
Ethnically diverse sample of elderly persons (n=784).


METHODS
Foot disorders (hallux valgus/bunion, pes planus (flat foot), pes cavus (high arch), hammertoe, mallet toe, claw toe, overlapping toes, bunionette, and plantar fasciitis), foot pain, the foot health functional status (FHFS, range 0-100, 100=no problems) scale, and walk time score (range 0-4, 4=fastest).


RESULTS
Most commonly assessed musculoskeletal disorders, including hallux valgus and toe deformities, were not associated with pain or function limitation. Plantar fasciitis and, to a lesser extent, pes cavus were associated with worse FHFS scores; foot pain partially explained this association. Neither foot disorders nor foot pain were significantly associated with slower walk times.


CONCLUSIONS
Many foot disorders had little relationship with foot pain or function and may not require clinical attention when asymptomatic. Risk factors and preventive and therapeutic interventions for plantar fasciitis require further longitudinal investigation.
Badlissi
Fadi
F
School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Fbadliss@bidmc.harvard.edu
Dunn
Julie E
JE
Link
Carol L
CL
Keysor
Julie J
JJ
McKinlay
John B
JB
Felson
David T
DT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000453:epidemiology; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011897:Random Allocation