Evidence for foot orthoses for adults with flatfoot: a systematic review

37Citations
Citations of this article
192Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Background: Flatfoot is characterised by the falling of the medial longitudinal arch, eversion of the hindfoot and abduction of the loaded forefoot. Furthermore, flatfoot leads to a variety of musculoskeletal symptoms in the lower extremity, such as knee or hip pain. The standard conservative treatment for flatfoot deformity is exercise therapy or treatment with foot orthoses. Foot orthoses are prescribed for various foot complaints. However, the evidence for the provision of foot orthoses is inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence of foot orthoses for adults with flatfoot. Methods: A computerized search was conducted in August 2021, using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Pedro, Cochrane Library, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Intervention studies of any design investigating the effects of foot orthoses were included, apart from case studies. Two independent reviewers assessed all search results to identify eligible studies and to assess their methodological quality. Results: A total of 110 studies were identified through the database search. 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. These studies investigated prefabricated and custom-made foot orthoses, evaluating stance and plantar pressure during gait. The sample sizes of the identified studies ranged from 8 to 80. In most of the studies, the methodological quality was low and a lack of information was frequently detected. Conclusion: There is a lack of evidence on the effect of foot orthoses for flatfoot in adults. This review illustrates the importance of conducting randomized controlled trials and the comprehensive development of guidelines for the prescription of foot orthoses. Given the weak evidence available, the common prescription of foot orthoses is somewhat surprising.

References Powered by Scopus

The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and elaboration

12188Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

ROBINS-I: A tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions

11634Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Updated guidance for trusted systematic reviews: a new edition of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

3467Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Foot orthoses for flexible flatfeet in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of patient-reported outcomes

12Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Medially wedged foot orthoses generate greater biomechanical effects than thin-flexible foot orthoses during a unilateral drop jump task on level and inclined surfaces

5Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The Rehabilitation Program Improves Balance Control in Children with Excessive Body Weight and Flat Feet by Activating the Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot: A Preliminary Study

5Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Herchenröder, M., Wilfling, D., & Steinhäuser, J. (2021, December 1). Evidence for foot orthoses for adults with flatfoot: a systematic review. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-021-00499-z

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 17

38%

Professor / Associate Prof. 13

29%

Lecturer / Post doc 8

18%

Researcher 7

16%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Nursing and Health Professions 21

41%

Medicine and Dentistry 18

35%

Engineering 9

18%

Social Sciences 3

6%

Article Metrics

Tooltip
Mentions
References: 2
Social Media
Shares, Likes & Comments: 11

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free