Abstract:
Objectives: Foot and ankle problems are common complications in rheumatoid arthritis disease. Gait pattern such as normal foot and ankle rocker is impaired in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rocker sole as an external shoe modification is commonly prescribed in this pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rocker shoe on vertical ground reaction force parameters during walking in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Sixteen female participants with rheumatoid arthritis were recruited in this study. All patients were prepared with a pair of high-top, heel-to-toe rocker shoe and were asked to wear the shoes for one month. Ground reaction force parameters including peak forces and peak force times were evaluated in the first session, and after seven days and thirty days follow up were carried on. Results: first maximal vertical force was significantly increased with rocker shoe compared to barefoot after 7 days follow up. Walking with rocker shoe reduced the minimal vertical force after 7 days. The second maximal vertical force showed to be statistically lower with rocker shoes than barefoot after 7 and 30 days. Furthermore, stance time decreased with rocker shoe after one month. Discussion: Results of this study revealed that vertical ground reaction force parameters changed in rheumatoid arthritis patients with heel-to-toe rocker shoe, both immediately and after one month follow up. This might suggest the effectiveness of rocker shoes in improving gait in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Machine summary:
Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 13, Issue 1, Spring 2015 Original Article The Effect of Rocker Shoe on the Ground Reaction Force Parameters in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Masumeh Bagherzadeh Cham*; Zahra Safaeepour University of social welfare and rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Sadegh Ghasemi, Mozhdeh Zabihi Yegane Iran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Bijan Forogh Brain and spinal cord injury repair research center Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Ali Sanjari Rehabilitation Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Foot and ankle problems are common complications in rheumatoid arthritis disease.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rocker shoe on vertical ground reaction force parameters during walking in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Discussion: Results of this study revealed that vertical ground reaction force parameters changed in rheumatoid arthritis patients with heel-to-toe rocker shoe, both immediately and after one month follow up.
Previous studies have demonstrated that rocker sole shoes are effective for reducing foot pain, improving foot function and activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis condition (14,15,19).
Discussion The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of rocker shoe on peaks and timing of vertical ground reaction force during walking in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Conclusion In this study, the parameters of vertical ground reaction force were altered in the rheumatoid arthritis patients by the heel-to-toe rocker shoe immediately and after one month follow up.