'Choosing shoes': a preliminary study into the challenges facing clinicians in
assessing footwear for rheumatoid patients

Silvester, R; Williams, AE; Dalbeth, N; Rome, K

Abstract

Background: Footwear has been accepted as a therapeutic intervention for the foot affected
by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Evidence relating to the objective assessment of footwear in
patients with RA is limited. The aims of this study were to identify current footwear styles,
footwear characteristics, and factors that influence footwear choice experienced by patients
with RA.
Methods: Eighty patients with RA were recruited from rheumatology clinics during the
summer months. Clinical characteristics, global function, and foot impairment and disability
measures were recorded. Current footwear, footwear characteristics and the factors
associated with choice of footwear were identified. Suitability of footwear was recorded using
pre-determined criteria for assessing footwear type, based on a previous study of foot pain.
Results: The patients had longstanding RA with moderate-to severe disability and
impairment. The foot and ankle assessment demonstrated a low-arch profile with both
forefoot and rearfoot structural deformities. Over 50% of shoes worn by patients were opentype
footwear. More than 70% of patients’ footwear was defined as being poor. Poor
footwear characteristics such as heel rigidity and sole hardness were observed. Patients
reported comfort (17%) and fit (14%) as important factors in choosing their own footwear.
Only five percent (5%) of patients wore therapeutic footwear.
Conclusions: The majority of patients with RA wear footwear that has been previously
described as poor. Future work needs to aim to define and justify the specific features of
footwear that may be of benefit to foot health for people with RA.

Citation

assessing footwear for rheumatoid patients. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 3(24), https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-3-24

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Oct 22, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 24
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-3-24
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-3-24