Immediate effects of various shoe and shoe insert designs on in-shoe plantar pressures in women with foot pain

What is the purpose of this research?

The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of various shoe and shoe insert designs on pressures under the foot in women with foot pain, and to explore their effect on foot pain and comfort.

Are you looking for people like me?

We are looking for women who:

• are over 18 years of age
• experience pain located at the heel or front (ball) of your foot when walking
• have had your foot pain for at least four weeks
• are able to walk independently (without assistance of an aid such as a walking stick or frame)
• wear a women's shoe size of Australia/US 6-11.

What will you ask me to do?

To determine your eligibility to participate in the study, there will be a brief physical screening session in Q-Block at the QUT Kelvin Grove campus. This will be less than 30 minutes duration.

The physical screening will include:

• Physical examination of your symptoms: A researcher who is a registered health professional, will feel your foot to confirm the location of your symptoms. They will also ask you to move your back, hip, knee and ankle to check for symptoms.
• Foot sensation assessment: The sensation under your foot will be tested by lightly touching the skin with a thin filament.
• Mobility assessment: You will be asked to stand from a chair, walk 3 meters then return and sit back down in the chair, while being timed with a stopwatch.

Full study participation will involve one assessment session, conducted in Q-Block at the Kelvin Grove Campus, that will take about 2-3 hours.

Free parking is available in Q-Block when you attend both the physical screening and assessment sessions.

Assessments will include:

• Written questionnaires to obtain information about your demographics (e.g. age, occupation, activity level, time spent standing), your foot pain symptoms and your functional ability.
• Physical measurements of your height, body weight and foot posture. Your foot posture will be measured in seated and standing positions using visual classifications as well as a custom device that measures the height and width of your foot.
• Walking in various different shoe and shoe insert designs. An insole that measures the pressures under your foot will be placed in your shoe while you walk in the different conditions. For each condition, you will walk across an 8m mat, as well as another walkway with sensors embedded in the floor. These devices will measure how you walk. After each condition we will ask you to rate your pain and comfort. You will be provided a 5-minutes rest period between conditions, with additional time available on request. The total walking distance for the assessment session will be approximately 1.1km.

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

There are minimal risks associated with your participation in this research project. Assessment procedures used in this study, such as completion of questionnaires, physical measurements and analysis of walking gait are like what you might undertake in an assessment with a health professional in the clinical setting. Study procedures are all non-invasive and involve low impact activities of minimal exertion. There is a minor risk that the walking trials may exacerbate your symptoms for a short period of time, however this is not expected to be any different to that caused by your normal activities of day-to-day living (overall walking distance about1.1km). You will be provided time to rest during the assessment session. All testing will be conducted by a registered health professional who can provide initial advice and/or referral to the QUT Health Clinic (Podiatry) should you experience an exacerbation of your symptoms during the testing session.

Are there any benefits for me in taking part?

It is expected that this research project will not benefit you directly. The outcomes of the research, however, will provide valuable information to inform further development of shoe and shoe insert design features by footwear manufacturers. It is also anticipated that results of this study will provide preliminary data to assist the development of a future clinical trial that evaluates shoe and shoe inserts for the management of foot pain. You can request a brief summary of the outcomes of the study by checking a box on the consent form. Free parking is available in Q-Block when you attend both the physical screening and assessment sessions.

Will I be compensated for my time?

To recognise your contribution should you choose to participate, the research team is offering you the choice of either a $50 FRANKiE4 gift card or a $25 Coles Group & Myer gift card.

I am interested - what should I do next?

If you are interested to participate, contact the chief investigator Dr Melinda Smith via email m123.smith@qut.edu.au or phone: +61 7 3138 6219.