A three-year study funded by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is investigating the success rate of foot orthotics in the treatment of plantar heel pain. The study, which will include a total of 300 patients, ages 18-75, is also comparing prescription orthotics to over-the-counter and prefabricated insoles.
“We are trying to better understand how well custom foot orthotics prescribed by podiatric physicians compare with over-the-counter insoles and pre-fabricated insoles to reduce or eliminate heel pain and improve a patient’s quality of life,” said James Wrobel, DPM, interim director of the Scholl’s Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois.
Wrobel added that this research study is the first of its kind to measure how specific foot types, such as low and high arches, respond to certain specific treatments, including custom orthotics.
“Prescription foot orthotics are an important treatment that a podiatrist uses to help our patients recover from painful injuries and return to an active lifestyle,” said Ronald D. Jensen, DPM, APMA president. “Such as with many other prescribed medical treatments, it is vital that evidence-based, statistical data be gathered in a scientific environment to support the use of custom foot orthotics for patient care.”
