Article

Foot problems are highly prevalent in older people. To treat such problems in
this age-group prefabricated ('off-the-shelf') foot orthoses are frequently
prescribed. However, such devices are susceptible to material compression and
deformation, which may reduce their effectiveness over time. Therefore, the aim
of this study was to compare the pressure-redistributing properties of new
prefabricated orthoses to orthoses worn for at least 12 months. Thirty-one adults
(10 males, 21 females) aged over 65 years (mean 75.4, SD 5.2) participated.
Plantar pressure data were collected under the rearfoot, midfoot and forefoot
using the Pedar((R)) in-shoe system while participants walked along an 8m walkway
wearing shoes only, new orthoses and old orthoses (orthoses were full length,
dual-density prefabricated Formthotic devices). Compared to the shoe-only
condition, both the new and old orthoses produced significant reductions in peak
pressure and maximum force in the rearfoot with corresponding increases in force
and contact area in the midfoot. Compared to the new orthoses, the old orthoses
exhibited small but significant increases in peak pressure in the rearfoot (6%,
p=0.001) and maximum force in the rearfoot (5%, p<0.001) and forefoot (2%,
p=0.032). These findings indicate that the prefabricated orthoses evaluated in
this study are only slightly less effective at redistributing plantar pressure
after at least 12 months of wear.
CI - Crown Copyright (c) 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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