title: A randomised control trial of short term efficacy of in-shoe foot orthoses compared with a wait and see policy for anterior knee pain and the role of foot mobility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the short-term clinical efficacy of in-shoe foot orthoses over a wait-and-see policy in the treatment of anterior knee pain (AKP) and evaluate the ability of foot posture measures to predict outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind, randomised control trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty participants (18-40 years) with clinically diagnosed AKP of greater than 6-week duration, who had not been treated with orthoses in the previous 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prefabricated orthoses perceived as most comfortable from a selection of 3 different hardness values compared with a wait-and-see control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participant-perceived global improvement, Kujala Patellofemoral Score, usual and worst pain severity over the previous week and the Patient Specific Functional Scale measures at 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Foot orthoses produced a significant global improvement compared with the control group (p = 0.008, relative risk reduction = 8.47%, numbers needed to treat = 2). Significant differences also occurred in measures of function (standardised mean difference = 0.71). Within the intervention group, individuals who exhibited a change in midfoot width from weight bearing to non-weight bearing of >11.25 mm were more likely to report a successful outcome (correct classification 77.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to show orthoses provide greater improvements in AKP than a wait-and-see approach. Individuals with greater midfoot mobility are more likely to experience success from treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12611000492954.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dev
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vicenzino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011187:Posture; D012775:Shoes; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057832:Watchful Waiting; D055815:Young Adult