title: Custom foot orthoses for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and critically appraise the evidence for the effectiveness of custom orthoses for the foot and ankle in rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were identified in appropriate electronic databases (from 1950 to March 2011). The search term "rheumatoid arthritis" with "foot" and "ankle" and related terms were used in conjunction with "orthoses" and synonyms. Included studies were quantitative longitudinal studies and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control trials, cohort studies, and case series studies. All outcome measures were investigated. Quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration criteria with additional criteria for sample population representativeness, quality of statistical analysis, and compliant intervention use and presence of cointerventions. Meta-analyses were conducted for outcome domains with multiple RCTs. Qualitative data synthesis was conducted for the remaining outcome domains. Levels of evidence were then assigned to each outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inclusion criteria were met by 17 studies. Two studies had high quality for internal validity and 3 studies had high quality for external validity. No study had high quality for both internal and external validity. Six outcome domains were identified. There was weak evidence for custom orthoses reducing pain and forefoot plantar pressures. Evidence was inconclusive for foot function, walking speed, gait parameters, and reducing hallux abductovalgus angle progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Custom orthoses may be beneficial in reducing pain and elevated forefoot plantar pressures in the rheumatoid foot and ankle. However, more definitive research is needed in this area.
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK. kym.hennessy@gcu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kym
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodburn
authors.forename: Martijn P M
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Steultjens
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome