title: The effect of good and poor walking shoe characteristics on plantar pressure and gait in people with gout.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has shown that good footwear characteristics may reduce foot pain and foot-related disability in people with gout. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of good and poor footwear characteristics on plantar pressure and spatiotemporal parameters of gait in people with gout.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six people with gout participated in a cross-sectional repeated measures study. Plantar pressure and spatiotemporal parameters were recorded in two shoe conditions: (1) the participants own footwear, and (2) either a new pair of walking shoes with good footwear characteristics (n=21) or poor characteristics (n=15). Differences between good and poor shoe groups compared to participants own shoes were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to participant's own shoes, footwear with good characteristics significantly reduced peak pressure at metatarsal 3 and 5, reduced pressure time integrals beneath the heel and metatarsals 3 and 5 and increased pressure time integrals beneath the midfoot. The footwear with poor characteristics significantly increased peak pressure beneath the heel and lesser toes, reduced peak pressure at metatarsal 3 and reduced pressure time integrals in the midfoot compared to participants own shoes. Both good and poor footwear significantly increased walking velocity, step length, and stride length compared to participants own shoes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walking shoes with good footwear characteristics can influence plantar pressure values and encourage a more efficient heel to toe gait pattern in people with gout. These changes may contribute to the reduction in foot pain and foot-related problems in this population.
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, AUT North Shore Campus, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: sarah.stewart@aut.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Counties Manukau District Health Board, Private Bag 94052, South Auckland Mail Centre, Manukau, Auckland 2240, New Zealand; Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, AUT North Shore Campus, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dalbeth
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, AUT North Shore Campus, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McNair
authors.affiliation: The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Auckland District Health Board, Private Bag 92024, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.affiliation: Counties Manukau District Health Board, Private Bag 94052, South Auckland Mail Centre, Manukau, Auckland 2240, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, AUT North Shore Campus, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rome
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006073:Gout / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012775:Shoes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Footwear; Gait; Gout; Plantar pressure; Spatiotemporal