RESULTS
Clinical and foot characteristics. The clinical and foot
characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Patients were
predominantly middle-aged men with longstanding disease. Obesity
and cardiovascular disease were common comorbidities. The
majority of patients (n = 27 [54%]) had a low foot profile (flatfoot).
Patients had high to severe (LFISIF >7 points: n = 27 [54%],
LFISAP >10 points: n = 30 [60%]) levels of foot impairment and
disability (Table 1). The FFI pain domain showed a moderate level
of pain.
Table 1. Clinical and foot characteristics
Value
Age, mean ± SD years
63.1 ± 13.2
Male sex, no. (%)
42 (84)
Ethnicity, no. (%)
White 26 (52)
Pacific Island 13 (26)
Maori 8 (16)
Asian 1 (2)
Indian
2 (4)
Disease duration, mean ± SD years
17.9 ± 14.4
Cardiovascular disease, no. (%) 20 (40)
Diabetes mellitus, no. (%) 7 (14)
Diuretic use, no. (%) 10 (20)
Allopurinol use, no. (%) 28 (56)
2
Body mass index, mean ± SD kg/m
Tophi present, no. (%)
Serum urate, mean ± SD mmoles/liter
Crystal-confirmed diagnosis, no. (%)
31.9 ± 7.8
8 (16)
0.43 ± 0.14
18 (36)
Foot Posture Index, mean ± SD 4.1 ± 2.9
Leeds Foot Impact Scale (impairment),
mean ± SD 8.3 ± 5.3
Leeds Foot Impact Scale (activities),
mean ± SD 13.3 ± 10.7
Foot Function Index (pain), mean ± SD 34.0 ± 28.3
Foot Function Index (disability), mean
± SD 33.4 ± 29.1
Foot Function Index (activities), mean
± SD 18.1 ± 24.7
Footwear assessment. Table 2 summarizes the footwear types
observed. Overall, 28 patients (56%) wore good footwear that
included walking, athletic, and Oxford-type shoes, with 42% of
patients wearing shoes that were defined as “poor.” No participants
wore high-heeled shoes.
Table 2. Footwear type
Footwear
suitability Total,
no. (%)
Good 28 (56)
No. (%)
Oxford shoe 9 (18)
Walking shoe 4 (8)
Athletic shoe 13 (26)
Therapeutic
footwear 2 (4)
Average
1 (2)
Boot
Poor
1 (2)
21 (42)
Sandal 6 (12)
Flip-flop 7 (14)
Slipper 4 (8)
Backless slipper 3 (6)
Moccasin 1 (2)
Table 3. Footwear construction
characteristics*
Footwear variable
Value
Fit of shoe
Length
Good 21 (42)
Too short 12 (24)
Too long 17 (34)
Width
Good 20 (40)
Too narrow 27 (54)
Too wide 3 (6)
Depth
Good 31 (62)
Too shallow 19 (38)
Heel height, cm
0–2.5 15 (30)
2.6–5.0 32 (64)
>5.0 3 (6)
Forefoot height, cm
0–0.9 11 (22)
1.0–2. 0 33 (66)
>2.0 6 (12)
(continued on next page)
Current Pedorthics
March/April 2013
25