The effect of foot orthotic use on exercise related leg pain in cross country athletes

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport 2012-11, Vol.13 (4), p.214-218
• Main Authors: Reinking, Mark F, Hayes, Ann M, Austin, Tricia M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Athletic Injuries - complications; Chi-Square Distribution; Confidence intervals; Exercise; Exercise related leg pain; Female; Foot Orthoses; Foot orthotics; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Indexing in process; Leg; Male; Overuse injury; Pain; Pain - etiology; Pain - prevention & control; Pain - rehabilitation; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Physical therapy; Prospective Studies; Running; Running - injuries; Secondary schools; Sports injuries; Sports Medicine; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Track and Field - injuries; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1466-853X; 1873-1600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2011.10.005

Abstract Objectives The purposes of this research were to (1) investigate the effect of foot orthotic use on exercise related leg pain (ERLP) in cross-country (XC) athletes, and (2) determine if an association between foot type and foot orthotic use exists. Design Prospective cohort design. Setting High schools and colleges in a Midwestern metropolitan region. Participants 213 high school and college XC athletes (107 male, 106 female). Materials/Methods Participants were seen before the fall XC season for classification of foot type, visual orthotic inspection, and questionnaire completion regarding foot orthotic use and ERLP. Statistical analysis of relationships (chi-square) was conducted. Results 37 of the 213 XC athletes (17.4%) used foot orthotics; 31 of the 37 athletes using foot orthotics (83.8%) reported a history of ERLP. Of these 31 athletes, 17 (54.8%) were using orthotics for ERLP and 15 reported a decrease in ERLP with orthotic use. Fourteen athletes were using orthotics for a reason other than ERLP and only 2 reported a decrease in ERLP with orthotic use. Athletes using orthotics included all three foot types (pronated, neutral, supinated) with no relationship between orthotic use and foot type. Conclusion One-sixth of the XC athletes used foot orthotics and most using orthotics for ERLP reported a decrease in ERLP symptoms. The majority of athletes using orthotics for reasons other than ERLP reported no change in ERLP symptoms. There was no association between foot type and orthotic use.