title: Shoe orthotics for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial of shoe orthotics for chronic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study recruited 50 patients with chronic low back pain through media advertising in a midwestern suburban area. Medical history and a low back examination were completed at a chiropractic clinic. Subjects were randomized to either a treatment group receiving custom-made shoe orthotics or a wait-list control group. After 6 weeks, the wait-list control group also received custom-made orthotics. This study measured change in perceived pain levels (Visual Analog Scale) and functional health status (Oswestry Disability Index) in patients with chronic low back pain at the end of 6 weeks of orthotic treatment compared with no treatment and at the end of 12 weeks of orthotic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed changes in back pain and disability with the use of shoe orthotics for 6 weeks compared with a wait-list control group. It appears that improvement was maintained through the 12-week visit, but the subjects did not continue to improve during this time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study showed that the measurement of shoe orthotics to reduce low back pain and discomfort after 6 weeks of use is feasible. A larger clinical trial is needed to verify these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, IL 60148, USA. jcambron@nuhs.edu
authors.forename: Jerrilyn A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cambron
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dexheimer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solecki
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012775:Shoes