1. A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Computer-Aided Designed and Manufactured Orthoses on Chronic Plantar Heel Pain
- Author
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Alfred Gatt, Nachiappan Chockalingam, Cynthia Formosa, and Mark Grech
- Subjects
Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Heel ,Foot Orthoses ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Physical medicine and rehabilitation ,medicine ,Humans ,Pain Management ,Orthopedics and Sports Medicine ,Prospective Studies ,Podiatry ,Pain Measurement ,030203 arthritis & rheumatology ,business.industry ,Equipment Design ,030229 sport sciences ,Middle Aged ,Pain management ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Fasciitis, Plantar ,Physical therapy ,Computer-Aided Design ,Female ,Surgery ,Chronic Pain ,Ankle ,business ,Foot (unit) ,Plantar heel pain - Abstract
Introduction. Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) is a significant, painful condition referring to a range of undifferentiated foot conditions that affect the heel of the foot. Method. Participants presenting with CPHP of more than 6 months’ duration were recruited on a first through the door basis. Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufactured (CAD-CAM) orthoses were designed and constructed for each participant, then dispensed as per normal practice. Pre- and postintervention assessment of pain was performed at baseline and after 6 weeks of use, utilizing the pain subset of the Foot Function Index (FFI). Results. There was a significant reduction in the mean pain scores for all participants in all constructs of the FFI. Total FFI score was also significant ( P = .003). Conclusion. CAD-CAM orthoses have the potential to become a treatment modality of choice in CPHP since they have resulted in a significant improvement in heel pain after only 6 weeks’ use. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Prospective, comparative trial
- Published
- 2017