Clinical effectiveness of customised sport shoe orthoses for overuse injuries in runners: a randomised controlled study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Treatment of chronic running-related overuse injuries by orthopaedic shoe orthoses is very common but not evidence-based to date.

HYPOTHESIS:

Polyurethane foam orthoses adapted to a participant's barefoot plantar pressure distribution are an effective treatment option for chronic overuse injuries in runners.

DESIGN:

Prospective, randomised, controlled clinical trial.

INTERVENTION:

51 patients with running injuries were treated with custom-made, semirigid running shoe orthoses for 8 weeks. 48 served as a randomised control group that continued regular training activity without any treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Evaluation was made by the validated pain questionnaire Subjective Pain Experience Scale, the pain disability index and a comfort index in the orthoses group (ICI).

RESULTS:

There were statistically significant differences between the orthoses and control groups at 8 weeks for the pain disability index (mean difference 3.2; 95% CI 0.9 to 5.5) and the Subjective Pain Experience Scale (6.6; 2.6 to 10.6). The patients with orthoses reported a rising wearing comfort (pre-treatment ICI 69/100; post-treatment ICI 83/100) that was most pronounced in the first 4 weeks (ICI 80.4/100).

CONCLUSION:

Customised polyurethane running shoe orthoses are an effective conservative therapy strategy for chronic running injuries with high comfort and acceptance of injured runners.

• Authors: A Hirschmüller, H Baur, S Müller, P Helwig, H-H Dickhuth, F Mayer
• Journal: British journal of sports medicine (Br J Sports Med) Vol. 45 Issue 12 Pg. 959-65 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1473-0480 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19679575 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Polyurethanes
• polyurethane foam

Topics

• Activities of Daily Living
• Adult
• Chronic Disease
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders (therapy)
• Disability Evaluation
• Disabled Persons
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Musculoskeletal Pain (etiology, prevention & control)
• Orthotic Devices
• Pain Measurement
• Patient Satisfaction
• Polyurethanes (therapeutic use)
• Prospective Studies
• Running (injuries)
• Shoes
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult